Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel, has had a working lunch in Sofia with the ambassadors of countries of the Middle East and North Africa. It was hosted by the embassy of Saudi Arabia. The unrealized potential in trade and economic cooperation in areas such as energy, defense, innovation, tourism and cultural exchange, attraction of direct investments in the Bulgarian economy and search for opportunities for Bulgarian participation in investment projects in the countries of the region were discussed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working on creating a road map for the development of this potential, the minister said.

The crises in Niger, Syria and Yemen, the Middle East peace process and the EU's relations with the countries of the group were also discussed, as well as the ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine and the global consequences of the conflict. In conclusion, Gabriel said that these work formats, allowing for a direct and pragmatic exchange of views, would continue in the future.