Rosen Plevneliev: Indonesia Can Open the Doors of Southeast Asia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Rosen Plevneliev, 52, was Bulgaria's fourth democratically elected president in 2011, continuing a new political tradition that began after the fall of communism in 1990. A graduate of Sofia Technical University, he has a business background in the field of construction and real estate, with eight years working in Germany before starting his political career. In 2009, he was appointed as minister of regional development and public works, following general elections for seats in the National Assembly. 

Some of his works can be seen in the high-quality highways that stretch along the country's borders with Greece and Turkey, also in the construction of the Sofia Business Park and the Sofia Residential Park. He has maintained his good relations with Germany since he became president. "Germany is now our biggest market," he told Tempo in an exclusive interview. 

The Plevneliev government's track record these past four years reflects a pragmatic economic approach. Criticized for leaning too much to the West, he said his new ambition was to bring the economy eastward. "We are moving very efficiently eastward toward Indonesia," he stated, adding that, "We are the fifth fastest growing economy in the European Union." 

His optimism, however, is not shared by all. The Economic Freedom Index ranks Bulgaria 29th among 44 European countries and 60th in global terms. The Index also recommends that serious attention be given to problems such as corruption, unprotected property rights and a weak judiciary. Bulgaria is known as one of the European Union's poorer countries, hence its accelerated development will be a challenge Plevneliev must face when he seeks reelection this coming October.

Two weeks ago, President Rosen Plevneliev spared some time in his busy schedule to speak with Tempo journalist Hermien Y. Kleden at the Presidential Palace in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. Excerpts: 

Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov will visit Indonesia at the end of March. What will be his objectives?

Let's say this is in preparation for a higher level visit to Indonesia, which can be by the deputy prime minister, prime minister or even the president of Bulgaria. Indonesia is a country with a very strategic location, a country that is very close to us: the mentality, tolerance, peaceful coexistence of religions with a very dynamic foreign policy. We look forward to having Indonesia as our major trade partner.

What kind of trade partnership do you envision with Indonesia?

There has been a number of visits by Indonesians to Bulgaria, and we want to make it on the same basis from Bulgaria to Indonesia. There is strong potential to further develop our bilateral trade. Because of that, we want to be more active and ambitious. We want to achieve more cooperation between both countries.

Do you have a strategy to bring Bulgaria closer to Indonesia, where people mostly know your homeland as a former communist country?

Because of that, we have this interview today and we are sending our minister to Indonesia. First of all, there is trust and friendship. Now, we would like to see more trade, more investments on both sides. We would like to encourage business delegations. I would say that after the foreign minister, we will send our economic minister with a business delegation to Indonesia. This is all in the interest of bringing us to a higher (level of) cooperation. We are friends, so we should also be good partners.

What about Southeast Asia?

If you look at the European Union, Bulgaria's economy is the fifth fastest growing economy in the EU. Our businessmen are more ambitious; they want to open new markets. Indonesia is a dynamic market, a big and friendly country for us so Indonesia can open the doors of Southeast Asia: to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, all over the region.

Some critics say Bulgaria is leaning too much on the West, economically speaking, and that you don't take enough steps to approach the huge market opportunity in the eastern part of the world. 

Twenty-five years ago, our economy was fully dependent on the Soviet Union. Some 99.3 percent of Bulgarian exports were only going to the Soviet Union. When communism collapsed, we completely redesigned and restructured our economy. Today, our biggest market is Germany. Our economy is now shifting. We have doubled trade between Bulgaria and China in just one year. We doubled it with Turkey within three years. (*)

Read the full interview in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine