Pakistan and Bulgaria are likely to sign ''economic co-operation agreement'' here today (Wednesday) on the first-ever visit of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov. During his three-day stay (January 19-21), the Bulgarian FM will meet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi to review the status of bilateral relations.
A joint press talk would be held at the Foreign Office after bilateral meeting of the delegations, here Wednesday. It is learnt that the government of Bulgaria has desired to sign an agreement on economic co-operation with Pakistan. The draft agreement received from Bulgarian side was sent for comments to concerned ministries and vetted by the Law and Justice Division.
Final text of the agreed draft has also been vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice from legal viewpoint. Under the proposed agreement, Pakistan-Bulgaria Inter-Governmental Commission would be established to deliberate co-operation in economic, trade and other fields between the two countries.
Pakistan had re-opened its resident mission in Sofia in June 2009. Pakistan and Bulgaria have traditionally enjoyed friendly and co-operative relations. There are opportunities of co-operation in economic, trade, oil, gas and mineral exploration. Both the countries are partners in counter-terrorism. Bulgaria is a member of Nato and the EU and the visit would provide an opportunity to share Pakistan''s perspective on its relations with both. Bulgaria is supportive of Pakistan''s greater access to the EU markets.