BULGARIAN MINISTER TO BRIEF U.S. FIRMS ON HER NATION’S PLANS TO STRENGTHEN ITS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA (July 07, 2004) – The Bulgarian Minister in charge of the State Agency for Civil Protection, the Honorable Feliz Husmenova, is visiting the United States this week as part of an Emergency Management Orientation Visit (OV) sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).  During her visit, the Minister will brief U.S. firms on Bulgaria’s plans in the emergency management sector.  The business briefing will take place on Thursday, July 15, 2004 in USTDA’s Business Center, located at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1500, Arlington, Virginia 22209.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by formal presentations, a business luncheon, and one-on-one meetings scheduled in the afternoon.

As a result of the events of September 11, 2001, the Bulgarian Government has sought to improve its protection against transnational crime and terrorism.  In addition, devastating floods in Bulgaria during 2002 created new pressures on the country for improved emergency management capabilities to respond to the full range of possible emergency situations.  As a result, Bulgaria has developed plans to enhance the country’s critical infrastructure protection systems, improve its related software and hardware systems, strengthen its emergency preparedness, and implement other new programs.

Minister Husmenova’s visit is intended to establish contacts with U.S. firms with services and products that might assist Bulgaria in achieving its emergency preparedness goals.  In addition to the Minister, 6 other Bulgarian officials from the State Agency for Civil Protection and other ministries are participating in the orientation visit.  The delegation’s itinerary includes visits to Miami, Florida and Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. firms and government agencies involved in emergency management, response and preparedness.  U.S. companies interested in participating in the business briefing should contact Mike Koeppen or David Elliott at Koeppen, Elliott & Associates Ltd. by telephone at (202) 429-5245 or via e-mail at mak@kealtd.com.  Representatives of the media interested in covering the business briefing should contact Donna Thiessen at USTDA by telephone at (703) 875-4357.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.  The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.  USTDA’s strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.  In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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