Nottingham Post

Jonathan Allen was busy touring parts of Bulgaria this week learning something of its industries.

He has the enthusiasm of a novice, but then this Nottingham-born man is the British Ambassador to Bulgaria.

This interview took place over his mobile phone while Mr Allen was being ferried between one appointment and another with the deputy mayor of Bulgaria's second city.

Mr Allen, who was appointed to the job aged 36, is now busy drumming up trade and investment opportunities for UK firms.

"It's a bit like a dating agency" said Mr Allen. "And there are plenty of opportunities for British companies."

On Tuesday he will be speaking at a trade and investment seminar at Nottingham Trent University organised by the Derbyshire and Notts Chamber of Commerce. The Bulgarian ambassador to London will also be on hand.

Why should British companies, especially Notts companies, be interested in Bulgaria?

"A good question," said Mr Allen. "Bulgaria has a growing middle class, a burgeoning wealthy sector which should be of interest to UK firms.

"We supply a lot of machinery and electronic equipment when they need specialist help."

Considerable investment is going into Bulgaria's infrastructure, such as water, roads and railways, where some of the know-how comes from British experts and is partly funded by the European Union.

"This may provide opportunities for Notts firms to supply some aspects of the sectors such as control mechanisms," said Mr Allen.

He said Bulgarian firms import across all sectors from the UK.

"The market is growing in affluence," he added. "It is taking more products from the UK. Britain got out of mass-producing cheap stuff and is into high value services.

"The large amount of EU money going into Bulgaria means there is a huge need for skills which manage public-private sector partnerships."

Mr Allen pointed to project consultants WYG, a company with a Nottingham office, which is particularly active in Bulgaria advising on a huge water privatisation project.

"There is a big desire for expertise from the service sector and law firms, for example, are rushed off their feet.

"There is a lot of potential for the service sector."

British universities are popular with Bulgarians, providing a significant opportunity for the UK's education sector.

Mr Allen said: "As EU citizens, they are entitled to the same rates as British citizens.

"There is a lot of interest in British education. The language of the world is English.

"It is closer and easier to study in the UK. We are getting a big increase in the number of students and this includes UK boarding schools."

The UK Embassy in Bulgaria is holding its first UK boarding school event next month.

Mr Allen said Bulgaria has a highly-educated workforce, is good at mathematics and languages.

"Wages are an average of 350 euros a month, giving it a low cost base, making it the cheapest place in Europe," said Mr Allen.

Bulgaria is on the border with Turkey and Romania and has what Mr Allen called "fantastic economic stability – 1.2% deficit and a 15 per cent debt".

Speakers at next Tuesday's Emerging Europe event at Nottingham Conference Centre, Nottingham Trent University, include the Bulgarian ambassador to the UK. Tel. 01332 851280 to book.

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