The development of the international tourism project "Roman Emperors' Road" was a focus of the meeting of Bulgarian and Croatian Economy Ministers in Zagreb.

Tourism harbors a great potential for the Bulgarian-Croatian economic ties, according to Bulgarian Minister of Economy, Energy, and Tourism, Traicho Traikov, and his Croatian counterpart Duro Popijac. Traikov was in Zagreb Wednesday as part of a Bulgarian state delegation led by PM Boyko Borisov.

The "Roman Emperors' Road" is a project for an international cultural itinerary of four countries – Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, and Serbia. It focuses on promoting cultural heritage from the Roman Empire period combining and combining with modern practices such as spa tourism.

In Bulgaria, the itinerary includes Roman routes that are still in use today as major transport arteries such as the Danube River, the Sofia-Plovdiv-Svilengrad road, the Black Sea panorama road, the Economy Ministry reminds.

Ministers Traikov and Popijac have hailed the growth of the Bulgarian-Croatian trade by 10% in 2010 y/y. Traikov remarked in Zagreb that Croatia's accession to the EU will boost substantially the exchange of trade and investments.

The two Economy Ministers further agreed that the respective energy companies will study the options for exporting Bulgarian electricity to Croatia. At Traikov's initiative the Bulgarian National Electric Company NEK and the Croatian NER will survey the technical and financial conditions for electricity trade. Croatia imports about 35% of its electricity.

Traikov and Popijac further underscored the importance of the development of the EU-sponsored Southern Gas Corridor for the imports of Caspian natural gas, creating liquefied natural gas terminals in Southeast Europe, and electricity grid connections.

Traikov and Popijac opened a Bulgarian-Croatian business forum, while Bulgaria's Deputy Economy Minister in charge of tourism Ivo Marinov took part in the Joint Bulgarian-Croatian Tourism Commission.

In 2010, Bulgaria's trade with Croatia amounted to EUR 117.6 M, 10% more than in 2009. Bulgaria was visited by 14 186 Croatian tourists in 2010, also a 10% growth y/y. Croatian companies invested a total of EUR 38 M in Bulgaria in 2000-2010.

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