A large Greek delegation of government officials, regional authorities, business leaders and university representatives will travel to Sofia on 16-17 February, launching a tour of Balkan capitals to deepen cross-border cooperation between northern Greece and neighbouring countries.
The initiative is organised by the Ministry of the Interior (Macedonia and Thrace sector) and will be led by Deputy Interior Minister for Macedonia and Thrace, Konstantinos Gkioulekas. The delegation brings together a broad coalition from across Macedonia and Thrace, including export and industry associations, chambers of commerce, technology sector representatives, and senior executives from the ports of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis. The three regional governors of Central, Western and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace will also attend, alongside the leadership of five universities in the region.
From the Bulgarian side, participation is expected from key business and institutional bodies, including the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, regional industrial associations, the Port of Ruse, logistics and transport organisations, and representatives of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education. Seventy-six Bulgarian entrepreneurs are set to take part, underscoring strong private-sector interest.
The first day in Sofia will feature parallel thematic working-group meetings focused on regional and local government, higher education and research, business cooperation, and port and logistics infrastructure. These sector-specific roundtables are designed to identify concrete areas for collaboration and potential agreements. On the second day, the Greek delegation will meet members of the Greek business community living and operating in Bulgaria.
Commenting on the trip, Gkioulekas said, "The aim is to highlight northern Greece's economic, educational and tourism potential, while creating new channels of communication, fostering synergies and partnerships, and signing memoranda of understanding between Greek and Bulgarian institutions."
