During his visit to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, and to the State of Serbia, the Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, held a series of meetings and discussions, where he met with a number of officials and ministers in the State of Bulgaria, most notably the Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, Georgi Tahov, the President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsvetan Simeonov, with the participation of the former Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Ambassador Khaled Amara, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Bulgaria, Nader Saad, and the General Manager of Antika World, Dr. Ahmed Nasr. In addition to meeting a number of Bulgarian, Arab and foreign investors.
The discussions held by the Secretary-General focused on ways to enhance the Arab-Bulgarian-Egyptian partnership and the Arab-European-Egyptian partnership in many promising sectors.
The Secretary General of the Union, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, stressed "the importance and role of Egypt as a hub for linking Bulgaria, the Balkan countries and the European Union on the one hand, and the Arab region and Africa on the other hand, given the strategic location that Egypt enjoys as a link between Asia, Europe and Africa, reaching the countries of South America."
He stressed that "the Union of Arab Chambers is steadfast in its commitment to enhancing cooperation, not only within the Arab world but also with countries around the world."
The Secretary General of the Union participated in the reopening of the TZUM building, which was restored by Antika World, represented by its General Manager Ahmed Nasr. This building is a distinctive symbol of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. In his speech, he said, “This project embodies a strong intersection between heritage and innovation, by transforming a historical landmark into a modern center that reflects the aspirations of a society looking to the future.”
He pointed out that "as Secretary General of the Union of Arab Chambers, I am particularly grateful for the resonance this project carries with our common aspirations, as Bulgaria is a country rich in culture and history and enjoys promising economic prospects, and therefore it is considered a prominent partner in this regard."
“The transformation we celebrate today strengthens the bonds that bind our two regions together and offers new paths for investment, cooperation, and mutual prosperity. The vision behind this transformation is to breathe new life into the heart of Sofia. It is not just the restoration of a landmark, but the reinvention of a central commercial and cultural hub, This is the center that will bring together diverse actors – traders, businessmen, and cultural practitioners – from Bulgaria and the Arab world, creating a space for the convergence of ideas, opportunities and shared growth.” he continued.
“As we look to the future, this project is a beacon of the possibilities that can arise when we build on our collective strengths. This project symbolizes the deep potential that exists between the Arab world and Bulgaria, and is an embodiment of the cooperation that we look forward to and aspire to develop,” he said.
He stressed that "the Union of Arab Chambers, to achieve this goal, is fully aware of the opportunities that this transformation offers to Arab traders, manufacturers and investors. We are fully prepared to support this project and encourage the wider participation of Arab companies in this project, which will undoubtedly contribute to the prosperity of our economies."
In addition, His Excellency the Egyptian Ambassador to Bulgaria, Nader Saad, hosted an official dinner in honor of the Secretary-General of the Union, in the presence of the Minister of Investment, the Minister of Tourism, and the Minister of Education in Bulgaria, in addition to economic and political figures from Bulgaria and Arab countries.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
