DEVELOPMENTS IN BULGARIAN FOREIGN TRADE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700250132-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 2011
• Sequence Number: 132
• Publication Date: May 18, 1956
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/08 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700250132-6
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/08 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700250132-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved
DEVELOPMENTS IN BULGARIAN FOREIGN TRADE
Vunshna Tur ovi No 1
Sofia, Jan 195
The Bulgarian people have seen the year 1955 close with noticeable successes
in the development of all branches of their socialist economy. Nex industrial,
power-producing, and other enterprises have been Ant into operation. The volume
of industrial production in 1955 amounted to almost 5.5 times that of 1939, and
the groduction of heavy industry, to 10 times that of 1939? New achievements
have also been made in Bulgarian socialized agriculture, the socialist forms of
which are continuously growing and strengthening. It is increasingly being aug-
mented by science and mechanization.
Labor productivity is rising in all branches of the national economy. Real
wages oP blue- and white-collar workers are rising, as is the income of the farm-
ers.
The international p?~sition of the People's Republic of Bulgaria has been
further strengthened. Bulgaria is a member of the UN enJoying equal rights, and
represents a factor in i,he preservation of peace in the Balkans.
The successes achieved during 1955 is the development of the Bulgarian na-
tional economy are a result of the successful labor efforts of all the Bulgarian
people, the great aid of the Soviet Union, and the brotherly cooperation and mu-
teal assistance among the countries of the entire socialist camp.
Bulgarian foreign trade, which during 1955 achieved new successes in import-
ing and exporting and in the development of economic relations with other coun-
tries, has made a considerable contribution to these achievements. During the
last 3 years, the goods exchange volume oP Bulgaria's foreign trade was equal to
that of the entire First Five-Year Plan. Fulfillment of the import-export plan
Por the past 2 1/2 years was as follows (in percent):
Export
195
95.5
1954
104.2
First Half of 1955
122.7
Import
103.9
106.2
104.0
Total exchange of goods
99.5
105.1
111.9
The goods exchange of the People's Republic of Bulgaria with all countries
with which it trades has increased. Trade relations with a number of countries
have been renewed and have become normalized. Bulgaria has concluded or renewed
trade agreements with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Turkey, Austria, Egypt,
the GDR, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Sweden, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Finland, Israel, etc. Pending financial problems with Switzerland, Sweden, Great
Britain, and France have been settled. Zn addition to regular agreements with
the USSR and the People's Democracies, long-term agreements have been concluded
with Hungary, Rumania, and Albania.
The industrialization and electrification of the country and the mechaniza-
tion of agriculture and transport have been aided by importing various complete
installations, machines, and materials. In addition, the Bulgarian people have
received n number of food commodities. The Bulgarian export list has been en-
riched with new export foods, and t::^ share of industrial goods on this list
amounts to almost 60 percent.
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The number of Bulgarian trade agencies has increased from 21 in 1952 to 29
in 1955?
The share of certain individual countries in Bulgaria's goods exchange in
1955, expressed in monetary ter
ms, was as follows (in percent): USSR, 47; the
GDR, 12.81; Czechoslovakia, 12.05; Rungary, 4.4; Poland, 4.15; Romanis, 3.93;
People's Republic of China, 2.16; Austria, 2.43; Great Britain, 1.64; and
German Federal Republic, 2.87, Eighty-seven percent of the total fell to the
world market of the People's Democracies. Bulgaria's trade with capitalist coun-
tries, however, is also increasing. It grew from 11 percent in 1952 to 13 per-
cent in 1955?
The great successes of the Bulgarian socialist economy, as well as of Bul-
garian foreign trade, were displayed at the 16th International Samples Fair in
Plovdiv in 1955, in which 20 countries participated in collective pavilions or
individual stands, and at which rather sizable export and import agreements were
reached. The fair has illustrated the favorable possibilities which exist for
the development of trade, both with socialist countries and with such capitalist
countries as Austria, the German Federal Republic, Italy, Belgium, the Nether-
lands, France, Switzerland, and Great Britain.
tasks before6theovarious branchessofethennationalpeconomione8nd construction
industry and agriculture. This also increases the tasksyof g~cially before
trade. garian foreign
The constantly increasing imports require an increase in Bulgarian exports,
since, in addition to Payments for current imports, Bulgaria has to pay off cred-
ite granted to it earlier. This means that in 1956, Bulgaria must increase the
exports oP certain agricultural products, such as tobacco and fresh and canned
fruits and vegetables. Production of early fruits and vegetables, Por which fa-
vorable conditions exist in Bulgaria, must also be developed. Particularly sharp
must be the increase in the export of high-quality products of heavy and light
industry, such as machines, products of the electrical industry, metallic and
nonmetallic minerals, textiles, leather goods, furniture, products of the glass
and porcelain industry, and a number of other industrial commodities. The im-
portant task of Bulgaria's foreign trade workers is to expand and open new mar-
kets for these goods,
Favorable possibilities exist for the expansion of the market for Bulgarian
expart gocda ir. the USSR and the People's Democracies on the basis of both con-
ventional trade agreements and new long-term agreements. Good possibilities also
exist for increasing Bulgarian exports to capitalist countries, such ae Austria,
the German Federal Republic, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain,
France, Finland, and other European countries, Bulgaria can also considerably
increase its goods exchange with n number of countries in the Near and Far East,
such as India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Eg~,/pt, Syria, Lebanon, an3 Israel. Bulgarian
trade with these countries is still very limited.
Bulgarian trade relations with countries of Africa and South America can
also be expsrded. Tnere are possibilities of trade with Burma and Australda
which should he utilized. possibilities of trade with Canada must also be in-
vestigated, and attempts must be made for the sale of rose oil and other com-
modities bo the US.
Trade agreements with Bul:;aria's neighbors, Yugoslavia, Turkey, and Greece,
offer opportunities for expansion and an even further increase in the exchange
of goods with them.
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A~artrBaBee must be waged with greater perseverance to achieve a high quality
of Bul xport co~noditiea to maintain their good reputation. In connection
with the development and increase in exports, Bulgarian foreign trade enterprises
should be supplied with high-quality printed propaganda materials and should make
a timely use of sll forma of commercial advertising.
With the development of Bulgarian foreign trade in 1956, with new as well
as present trading partners, the construction of socialism in Bulgaria will be
advanced. Moreover, the Bulgarian people will be able to show the world even
more clearly their constant striving for peace and peaceful economic cooperation
on as equal footing.
_,~
I_
5
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