During their working visit to Hanoi, CEED Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) held a meeting with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), focusing on the development of bilateral cooperation and opportunities for labour mobility between Bulgaria and Vietnam.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Nguyen Thi Thai Ly, Deputy Director General of the International Relations Department at VCCI. Representatives of CEED Bulgaria and BCCI presented the main objectives and activities of the “Functionally Sustainable Migration and Integration in Bulgaria” (FSMI in Bulgaria) project, as well as the progress achieved so far.
One of the key topics was the upcoming online information event, scheduled for early October. The event will provide Vietnamese citizens with information about employment and professional opportunities in Bulgaria, as well as the conditions for starting and developing a business in the country.
The meeting also included a presentation of BGJobs, the platform developed under the project. The participants discussed its functionalities, the verification mechanisms for registered users, and its role in connecting Bulgarian employers with potential candidates from third countries. The current workforce needs of the Bulgarian labour market were also presented, including in the manufacturing, construction and services sectors.
The discussion also addressed opportunities to further strengthen economic ties between Bulgaria and Vietnam. Tsvetan Aleksov, Trade Counsellor at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Vietnam, noted that more than 300 Vietnamese workers have come to Bulgaria over the past three years. They are employed in fields including mechanical engineering, engineering, construction, and information and communication technologies, including positions for highly qualified specialists.
The participants also highlighted the positive role of the diplomatic missions of both countries in supporting bilateral trade and economic relations, as well as the potential for increasing trade between Bulgaria and Vietnam.
The meeting outlined concrete next steps for strengthening the partnership, including an information webinar for potential candidates from Vietnam and preparations for a business delegation visit to Bulgaria planned for the end of October.
For CEED Bulgaria, international partnerships such as these are an important part of its efforts to establish sustainable mechanisms for labour mobility and strengthen connections between businesses, institutions and potential talent from third countries.
