Businessman and President of the Greek-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Panagiotis Koutsikos, discussed developments in neighboring Bulgaria, the impact of the election of a stable government following years of political instability, the growth of trade with Greece, and the strong presence of Greek businesses in the country. He spoke to Voice of Greece Radio on “Our Global Voice” with Dimitris Kontogiannis.
Mr. Koutsikos noted that Bulgaria’s stance on the Ukraine issue could influence its economic relations with the European Union more than any other factor and could also affect Greek-Bulgarian relations. Regarding Greece’s ambition to become an energy gateway to Bulgaria, he stressed that the issue will ultimately be decided at the geopolitical level and that it matters whether Sofia aligns itself with Russia or with the European Union and the United States.
Referring to Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro on 1 January 2026, he said that the country was better prepared than some others, including Greece, and that no significant wave of price increases had been observed. However, Bulgaria faces labor shortages similar to those seen in Greece and elsewhere, a challenge that is also being felt by Greek companies operating there.
He also pointed out that the wage gap between Greece and Bulgaria has largely narrowed and is no longer what it was years ago, when many Greek companies established subsidiaries just across the border to take advantage of lower labor costs.