24.09.2025
The Government is working intensely to write a Memorandum of Understanding in the social sector between Bulgaria and Vietnam. Work is in a very advanced stage and the MoU would be a sound basis for a subsequent Agreement on Labor Migration. This was stated by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov at his meeting with the President of Vietnam Luong Cuong. They spoke in New York within the framework of the 80th regular session of the UN General Assembly taking place there.
During the discussion Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov emphasized Bulgaria’s desire to strengthen economic exchange with Vietnam as a priority trade partner in Southeast Asia. The Prime Minister specially stressed the active dialog in the social sector. Rossen Jeliazkov informed President Luong Cuong about the measures taken by the Bulgarian Government to address the challenges concerning the procedures for access of third-country nationals to the labor market in Bulgaria. The Prime Minister highlighted a number of legislative and administrative changes that the cabinet had already adopted and that are pending debate in Parliament including the approval of higher quotas for employers to hire foreign nationals. Work is under way to shorten the administrative deadlines for issuing visas and work permits. The capacity of the consular services of our diplomatic missions in a number of countries that are a priority for the Bulgarian labor market, Vietnam included, will be strengthened accordingly.
Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov gave prominence to the potential for interaction between Bulgaria and Vietnam in other areas such as information and communication technologies, innovations, digital transformation, high-tech farming, pharmacy. In the opinion of Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, it is essential to make an utmost use of the opportunities for cooperation in areas with high added value. Rossen Jeliazkov recognized the role of the Joint Commission for Commercial, Economic and Techno-Scientific Cooperation in the promotion of bilateral relations with Vietnam. In addition, in the view of Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov, the two countries should avail of the opportunities afforded by the EU-Vietnam dialog, the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership and initiatives such as the EU Indo-Pacific Cooperation Strategy and the Global Gateway.
