In what fields do you see prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation? Are there unemployed resources and to what priority spheres do you think the bilateral efforts should be directed?
At this stage – doubtlessly towards the diversification and increase of trade. One of the main messages of the Foreign Minister Dr. Solomon Passy during his visit to India was that Bulgaria is the ideal “gate” for Indian business to the European markets. This is true because, as economic statistics shows, the export of Bulgarian goods to the world is steadily growing owing to their quality and competitiveness at the international market.

On the other hand, Bulgarian economy expects investments. Indian investors will find an excellent climate for work in Bulgaria thanks to the low expenses for conducting productive business and low taxes, which are some of the lowest in Europe. Another important factor is that in Bulgaria investors will find institutional support for their projects and highly qualified personnel.

As a whole, our cooperation with India has priority in a number of fields of mutual interest, such as IT, communications, defense, energy, the food and light industries, science and technology. Since 2000, on the basis of bilateral programs for cooperation, scientists from the two countries develop joint applied-science projects in the most modern areas of science and technology. In 2004 we agreed to set up a joint forum on information and communication technologies with the participation of state and private entities.

Also the cultural and educational exchange should continue, because both Bulgaria and India are countries of ancient and rich cultural-historical heritage and excellent traditions in the sphere of education. The respect for knowledge, for the educated and bright persons is common in the two nations. The basis for this cooperation has been long built. We can be proud with the fact that for 20 years now at St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia there has been a specialty of Indology, where students of special interest in India, its languages, cultural heritage and literature are taught. The New Delhi University, in turn, has a department of Bulgarian Studies and Indian students read Yovkov in the original. There are hundreds of Indian students of medicine in Bulgaria. Every year the Indian government and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations organize and pay for the specializations of dozens of Bulgarians in different Indian scientific and technical institutes.

The prospects before the mutually beneficial cooperation between Bulgaria and India are really great and diverse and, in my opinion, owing to the number of similar traits in our national psychology, the traditional friendly relations and shared values, it will not only last in future but is still to reach new peaks.

Is contemporary India the exotic country we know? Is it visited by Bulgarians?
India is an incredible country. It may sound outworn, but it is indeed a country of contrasts, of drastic contrasts in every respect – geographically, politically, economically, socially, religiously, culturally. India is a small planet Earth, where people of different creeds, different social status, different degrees of education or no education at all, different traditions and customs live in peace, love and respect. This unity is unique, I think, and cannot be found anywhere else. Imagine a land of the size of Europe, with double its population, with functioning market economy, established democracy and clear division between the powers.

Simultaneously, India is a dynamically developing economy with annual GDP growth of 6.5-8%. The peak achievements of modern science and technology are not foreign to it. At the moment nearly 40 satellites made in India “circle” in Space. In 2004 the first sod was turned for a nuclear power plant with fast neutrons, the design and technology of which is entirely Indian. The list is very long.

Because of these realities I cannot describe India only as an exotic country. Yes, here you can taste all sorts of exotic fruits, to delight in exotic flowers and plants while traveling, to see exotic and wondrous beautiful places. But India is not just exotic, it is wise. For one to feel this millennial wisdom, for which there are no secrets of life, one has to spend a long time reading and traveling across the country, talking to its people, to be able to spend a whole day contemplating a bush bursting into bloom before one’s eyes. For us, Europeans, this is quite hard. Nevertheless, many Bulgarians, young people arrive here and set out with rucksacks on their backs. I always ask them why, where to, because at the embassy there must be information in case something unforeseen happens. The most common answer is: “To find ourselves”…

Do you have time left for private pastimes? Tell us how a Bulgarian ambassador is received in India.
Yes, I do have spare time. Not much but it is there. I use it to read. I enrich my knowledge about India. I enjoy very much reading books about the building and architectural heritage, which is enormous here.

The Bulgarian ambassador to India is received seriously, as any other ambassador. In Delhi there are established norms of conduct, requiring the citizens, in private and official situations, to treat equally all foreign country representatives. These norms have long become a tradition. Maybe this is a reflection of the proverbial Indian hospitality. Maybe also a line of conduct cultivated during the years of independence, when all governments in New Delhi pursued a policy of peaceful existence, respect, non-interference, inviolability etc. – the well-known principles of “pancha shila” formulated 50 years ago.

Juliana Tomova