Bulgaria Travel Guide

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Bulgaria: Doing business & staying in touch

Doing business in Bulgaria

Many businesspeople in Bulgaria speak fluent English, German or French. Dress code is standard suit and tie for men, although this could well be more relaxed especially in warmer weather. Women are expected to wear similarly formal attire. While conservative but stylish is generally preferred, dress code depends on the industry and working environment.

Greeting with a handshake is expected and punctuality is appreciated. Bureaucracy can slow progress so patience is essential. Bulgarians are generous and like to entertain, so inviting business contacts to lunch or dinner is a common practice.

It is worth mentioning that in Bulgaria, nodding of the head means 'no', while shaking the head means 'yes'.

Office hours:

Mon-Fri 0900-1730.

Economy:

The economy in Bulgaria has gone from strength to strength after joining the EU in 2007 but as of 2019, its income per capital is only 47% of the EU average. This means the country needs to accelerate its productivity in the next few years.

GDP:

US$162.7 billion (2018).

Main exports:

Clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment.

Main imports:

Machinery and equipment, metals and ores, chemicals and plastics, fuel.

Main trading partners:

Russia, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Romania, France, Poland and Greece.

Keeping in Touch in Bulgaria

Mobile phone:

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good in most of the country. It is easy to purchase domestic SIM cards.

Internet:

Wi-Fi access is widely available in hotels, restaurants and bars.

Post:

Airmail to Western Europe takes from a few days.

Post office hours:

Usually Mon-Sat 0830-1730.

Media:

Bulgaria enjoys a relatively free press.

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Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.