Sofia aims at full OECD membership, vice PM Karadzov says

The government's political goal is for Bulgaria to become a full member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development by the end of 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Grozdan Karadzhov told representatives of British businesses in Bulgaria.

The forum, 'Partnering for Progress: Government and Business in Bulgaria's OECD Journey', organised by the British-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, was attended by over 70 company, institutional and international organisation representatives.

According to Mr Karadzhov, OECD membership would send a clear signal to the global economic community that Bulgaria can offer a stable and predictable business environment. 'It guarantees more effective public policies, higher economic growth, a better international credit rating and a higher quality of life for citizens,' he told BGNES.

Since the first formal request to join the OECD in 2007, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Bulgaria has implemented large-scale reforms in all areas of public life, from tax policy and labour legislation to fighting corruption and promoting fair competition.