Deputy Prime Minister Ninova and Ambassador of Japan announced a new investment in Bulgarian yogurt

A new investment in science and high technology in Bulgaria was announced by the Japanese company “Meiji”. The company has announced its willingness to invest in the laboratory for the expansion of scientific and development activities at LB Bulgaricum“. This became clear during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Industry, Kornelia Ninova, and Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria, H. E. Hiroshi Narahira to the state-owned dailry company.

They toured the production facilities and laboratories where more than 1,000 strains of bacteria and more than 100 starters for the original Bulgarian yogurt are stored.

Much of the modern technical equipment and machinery in the company is mde in Japan, and many of its employees have been trained in Japan.

"LB Bulgaricum" is a state-owned enterprise and will not be privatised, assured Kornelia Ninova. She is the first minister to visit the laboratory in the recent 20 years.

Bulgarian yoghurt is the brand of Bulgaria, known all over the world, Minister Ninova and the Japanese ambassador announced.

Н.E. Hiroshi Narahira explained that for the Japanese people, yogurt is a symbol of Bulgaria and said that it entered Japan in 1970 when it was introduced at the Osaka Expo. "Then, the Emperor stopped at the Bulgarian stand and tasted Bulgarian yoghurt. This is a very famous story in Japan," he explained. Narahira was adamant that Bulgaria also attracts Japan's interest because it is strategically located and has many talented people, especially in the science and IT sectors.

Deputy Prime Minister Ninova and Ambassador Narahira agreed that the current difficult situation after the Covid crisis and because of the war in Ukraine could be an opportunity to develop bilateral ties. "The trade between Japan and Bulgaria has increased and there is an opportunity to deepen the economic relations between our two countries," the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that Japanese companies are welcome in our country.

Hiroshi Narahira said that ministers and MPs from Japan are interested in visiting Bulgaria and meeting with Minister Ninova.

Japan is a priority trade and economic partner of Bulgaria.

Bulgarian business can become a supplier of Japanese company in the sphere of information and communication technologies and automation; mechanical engineering, machine parts and tools, production of automotive parts; construction; mining industry; pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, etc.

Imports from Japan mainly cover automobiles, cables, machine parts, machinery, etc.

Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the start of production and sales of yoghurt under the name "Bulgaria" in Japan. This was made possible after the Bulgarian government allowed the Japanese Meiji Deurise Corporation to sell the product in 1972. A licensing agreement was then signed between the Japanese company and VTO Technika, which was the predecessor of LB Bulgaricum. Today, three licensing agreements have been concluded and successfully implemented between LB Bulgaricum and Meiji, through which Bulgarian yoghurt is distributed on Asian markets. A fourth one is in a process of preparation.