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April, 2019

Social Securities E-petition

By becoming partner countries Australia and the Republic of Bulgaria will make concessions against their social security qualification rules so that people covered by the agreement may access payments for which they might otherwise fail to qualify. Australia already has a number of similar social security agreements with 32 countries. Under these agreements, Australia equates social insurance periods/residence in those countries with periods of Australian residence in order to meet the minimum qualifying periods for Australian pensions.

The Republic of Bulgaria is a member of the European Union. A Social Security Agreement between Australia and The Republic of Bulgaria would coordinate the two countries' social security schemes to provide better retirement income coverage for people who have moved between the two countries.

March, 2019

Meeting with the Deputy Minister of Economy

BABC delegates met with the Deputy Minister of Economy Liliya Ivanova today to discuss trade and investment between Australia, New Zealand and Bulgaria.
The meeting started with a short review of BABC activities and achievements up to date.
The status of the negotiations for Free Trade Agreement, the main industry sectors of interest for investment and the need to promote Bulgaria in Australia and New Zealand as an attractive European destination for business development, trade and investment activities were some of the topics during the meeting.

January, 2019

The first official event of BABC gathered together the Ambassador of Australia, responsible for Bulgaria – Kate Logan, Indiana Trifonova, Honorary Consul of Australia for Bulgaria, Consul Janine McLennan, as well as many representatives of the Bulgarian business and people from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy.
29 January, Sofia – The reception on the occasion of Australia Day started with a speech from the Australian Ambassador Kare Logan, who highlighted the importance of the development and improvement of the trade contacts between the two countries, the exchange of information and the opening of new business opportunities in Bulgaria and Australia. The event took place in Dada Cultural Bar yesterday night and gathered representatives of the business, government officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy.
More information on the role and the mission of the Bulgarian-Australian Business Council (BABC), set up in February 2018, presented Joana Kehlibarova, elected as chairman and CEO of the association.
Ms. Kehlibarova emphasized on the achievements of BABC since the establishment of the organization last year. She also noted the positive development of the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the EU.
The official part of the event ended with a congratulatory video from all attendees on the occasion of Australia National Day.

December 2018

EU-Australia Leadership Forum

Bulgarian-Australian Business Council participated in the annual EU-Australia Leadership Forum, held in Brussels from 18 to 22 November 2018.

The Forum gathered together key European and Australian leaders from government, business, media, education and civil society to discuss the future relations between Europe and Australia. For the first time, the five-day event took place in Europe.
The main purpose of the event is to extend and deepen the existing links between the two regions and to help form a stable partnership. The project is funded by the European Union (EUR 2 million, approximately AUD 3 million) and covers a period of 3 years (2016-2019).
The event takes place at a key moment for EU-Australia relations, given the recent temporary implementation of the EU-Australia Framework Agreement and the opening of negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and Australia.
The European Union's Ambassador to Australia, Michael Pulch, explains that the Forum plays an important role in the context of the deepening EU-Australia partnership:
“After 56 years of formal diplomatic relations, the relationship between the EU and Australia is simply too advanced and complex to be summed up by treaties or official meetings. The Forum is designed to ensure that a broader group of leaders from different strands of society becomes even more actively involved in the shaping of the EU-Australia relationship.”
Key speakers and special guests in the forum were: Federica Mogerini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; Elmar Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament; Reverend Tim Costello, principal advocate of World Vision Australia, Simon Kraan, Vice President of the European-Australian Business Council.

May, 2018

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO FTA TALKS

The European Commission announced today that the impact assessment for the free trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand are now complete and formal negotiations can begin.
Jean-Claude Juncker President of the European Commission said: "These agreements will build on the recent successful agreements with Canada, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, as well as Mexico among others, expanding the alliance of partners committed to open and rules-based global trade. Open trade must go hand in hand with open and inclusive policy making. That's why the Commission published the draft negotiating mandates with Australia and New Zealand when it proposed to the Council to open these negotiations. These agreements will be negotiated in the greatest transparency and we expect Member States to uphold this high level of transparency."
Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström said: "This is great news. We look forward to adding Australia and New Zealand to the EU's ever-growing circle of close trading partners. We are already close in terms of shared values and our open, global outlook. Together, we will now negotiate win-win trade deals that create new opportunities for our businesses, as well as safeguard high standards in key areas such as sustainable development. I am looking forward to visiting Canberra and Wellington in the coming weeks to officially launch our negotiations."
Commissioner Malmström will travel to Australia and New Zealand in June to open formal negotiations. The first negotiation rounds between are envisaged to take place in Brussels in July 2018.
“After 56 years of formal diplomatic relations, the relationship between the EU and Australia is simply too advanced and complex to be summed up by treaties or official meetings. The Forum is designed to ensure that a broader group of leaders from different strands of society becomes even more actively involved in the shaping of the EU-Australia relationship.”
Key speakers and special guests in the forum were: Federica Mogerini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission; Elmar Brok, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament; Reverend Tim Costello, principal advocate of World Vision Australia, Simon Kraan, Vice President of the European-Australian Business Council.

May, 2018

Meeting with EABC

The Bulgarian-Australian Business Council had the pleasure to meet Jason Collins, Chief Executive Officer of the European Australian Business Council, which is part of the Australian Business in Europe professional network.
Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) brings together multiple Australian and European organizations with the common objective of growing and strengthening the trade, investment, business and diplomatic relations between the two regions.
Jason Collins welcomed the initiative of the newly established association in Bulgaria, affirmed his support of BABC mission to enhance and develop economic and trade relations between Australia and Bulgaria and expressed his interest to visit Bulgaria.

May, 2018

Meeting with the Bulgarian Ambassador in Australia

May, 2018

Meeting in the Australian Department of Foreing Affairs

Delegates of the Bulgarian-Australian Business Council met with Angela McGrath - Director and Carly Stevens - Assistant Director of the Europe Trade Section in the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra.
Joana Kehlibarova and Dimitar Stoimenov presented the mission and objectives of the Bulgarian-Australian Business Council and discussed future initiatives and collaboration.
BABC official representatives expressed their strong support to the European-Australian Free Trade Agreement, which will complement the longstanding trade and investment relationship. The FTA will initiate new bilateral commercial opportunities and will facilitate the creation of new ties with global production and commercial networks, and will help to advance the trade policy interests of the EU in the Asia-Pacific region.
The European Commission aims to finalize the negotiations before the end of its mandate in late 2019.

April, 2018

Meeting with the new Australian Ambassador

H.E. the new Australian Ambassador to Greece with non-resident accreditation to Bulgaria and Romania Ms. Kate Logan visited Bulgaria on Friday to meet the Bulgarian President and representatives of the newly established Bulgarian-Australian Business Council (BABC).
The management board of BABC introduced to Ms. Logan the mission, objectives and plans for development of BABC. During the meeting were discussed bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Australia and steps for improvement and expansion of economic cooperation.

March, 2018

Announcement on BABC Establishment

We are thrilled to announce the official establishment of the Bulgarian-Australian Business Council, the pioneering organization in Bulgaria that provides a direct platform and network for Australian and Bulgarian companies and individuals. On February 22, 2018, BABC was officially registered, marking a significant milestone in fostering strong business connections and facilitating trade and investment opportunities between Bulgaria and Australia.

At BABC, we are committed to supporting our members' trade and business activities by offering a wide range of benefits and resources. By becoming a member, you gain access to a dynamic network of professionals, valuable business contacts, and a wealth of information and expertise.

Our primary focus areas include:

Business Development: We strive to identify and develop business opportunities for our members, creating a conducive environment for growth and expansion. Through various initiatives and events, we aim to foster collaboration and synergy among companies in both Bulgaria and Australia.

Networking and Relationship Building: BABC provides a platform for building meaningful connections and relationships. We organize networking events, seminars, and conferences, allowing members to interact with key stakeholders and industry experts. These opportunities facilitate knowledge sharing, partnership formation, and the exchange of ideas.

Advocacy and Support: We actively represent the interests of our members and work towards creating a favorable business climate. Through advocacy efforts and engagement with relevant authorities, we aim to address challenges, promote favorable policies, and facilitate smoother business operations for our members.

Knowledge and Information Sharing: Keeping our members informed and up-to-date is a priority at BABC. We provide access to valuable resources, industry insights, market intelligence, and updates on bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Bulgaria and Australia. Our aim is to empower members with the knowledge they need to make informed business decisions.

Joining BABC is open to individuals and companies with an interest in expanding their networks or businesses in Bulgaria and Australia. By becoming a member, you gain access to exclusive benefits, including networking opportunities, business matchmaking, industry events, and access to our comprehensive membership directory.

We invite you to explore our website to learn more about BABC, our activities, and the benefits of membership. Should you have any questions or require further information, please don't hesitate to contact us at info[at]babc[dot]biz.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Bulgarian-Australian Business Council and working together to strengthen business ties and foster growth and success for our members.

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