AfricaAsia NorthAsia South and SoutheastAustraliaEuropeAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCyprusCzechDenmarkEstoniaEuropean UnionFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyLatviaLithuaniaMaltaNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUKLatin AmericaMiddle EastNorth AmericaPacific
Start writing the country or territory name in the box. Typing more letters narrows the search. Click "go" or hit "Enter" to go to the information paper on the country or territory.
(We don't have information papers on all countries and territories.)
New Zealand's bilateral relationship with Bulgaria, at both economic and cultural levels, is cordial but lacks substance. Government-to-government contact with Bulgaria largely takes place in multilateral forums, including the WTO, UN and the Antarctic Treaty (Bulgaria was accepted as a Consultative Party in 1998). Inaugural political consultations between officials were held in Wellington in October 2007.
New Zealand's channel of communication with Bulgaria is through the Bulgarian Consulate in Sydney. About 400 people identified themselves as being primarily Bulgarian in the 1996 census. In 2007, New Zealand announced the first-ever accreditation to Bulgaria by the New Zealand Ambassador in Brussels.
New Zealand’s relationship with Bulgaria is likely to deepen with accession to the European Union on 1 January 2007, as Bulgaria looks to expand its regional and global outreach. The number of Bulgarians visiting New Zealand is likely to increase following New Zealand’s decision to grant visa-free status, which came into force on 30 July 2007.
Land Area 111,002 sq km
Population 7.6 million (2007 est)
Capital city Sofia
Language Bulgarian
Political system Parliamentary republic
National government Coalition between the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the Simeon II National Movement (SNM) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF)
National legislature Unicameral national assembly: 240 members elected by proportional representation
Last election June 2005 (parliamentary) and October 2006 (presidential)
Next election due June 2009 (parliamentary) and October 2010 (presidential)
Head of State President Georgi Purvanov
Head of Government Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev
GDP US$42.6 billion (2007 est)
Real GDP growth 5.8%
Exports US$18.4 billion
Imports US$28.7 billion
Main exports Clothing and footwear, iron and steel, other metals
Current account balance US$ -8.5 billion
Inflation 9.2%
Unemployment 7.8%
NZ Exports (FOB) NZ$4.1 million (provisional to year ended June 2007)
Main Exports Wool, fish, milk and cream, shellfish
NZ Imports (CIF) NZ$3.2 million
Main Imports Rubber articles, machinery, fruit and nuts, footwear
The New Zealand Ambassador in Brussels will be accredited to Bulgaria this year. New Zealand communicates with Bulgaria through the Bulgarian Consulate in Sydney.
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Bulgaria [external link].
