A Bulgarian-Saudi Business Council was established with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (BCCI), BCCI said Thursday.

Participating in the initiative are over 40 Bulgarian companies engaged in trade and production of organic oils and herbs, radar systems, tires, ornamental plants, construction and construction equipment, transport, real estate, legal services, shopping centres and others.

The promoter of the idea to establish such an organization, Nikolai Filipov, was elected Council Chairman. Two deputy chairmen were elected - Trace Group Hold Coordinator Nikolai Vulev and SBL Group Executive Director Muhammad Hasan Hamidi Sakr.

Radion Popov, former foreign affairs deputy minister and a potential ambassador of Bulgaria to Saudi Arabia at the time of the previous Bulgarian government, was also present at the event. He underlined the need of a Bulgarian embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Ambassador to Greece Saleh Al Ghamdi could not attend the event but expressed his support for the initiative and confirmed that he will participate in the next meeting of the Council.

BCCI aims at encouraging and assisting all business and non-profit organizations willing to work for the development of Bulgarian-Saudi trade and economic relations, BCCI reported.