"Hello everyone! We're from Rose Valley, Bulgaria. We specialize in natural essential oils, and welcome any interested companies to explore potential collaboration..."
On November 8, Bulgarian business representative Mihaela Aprilova jetted into Ningbo for the“Discover Bulgaria Ningbo - Bulgaria Cosmetics Industry Matchmaking and Exchange". At the event, held in the China (Ningbo) Central and Eastern Europe Youth Innovation Center, Mihaela took the opportunity to actively promote her company's offerings to attendees.
Event Image, provided by the correspondent (same as all subsequent images)
The event was organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade - Ningbo (CCPIT Ningbo) and the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (APACCCEEC), with coordination support from the Yinzhou District Trade Association and the Sofia China Cultural Center.
More than 30 representatives from Bulgaria - including government officials, media, and business leaders from the agriculture and cosmetics sectors - participated in matchmaking and exchange with local Ningbo enterprises.
Zhou Fang (second from right) poses with Bulgarian businessman John (second from left) and other attendees at the event.
Zhou Fang, Chairwoman of the Ningbo-listed firm Scientz Biotechnology Co., Ltd. , attended the event expressly to propose a partnership to the Bulgarian delegates, complementing her invitation with a gift of her calligraphy.
"I have founded two enterprises," she stated. "One develops plant extraction equipment for China's major universities, and the other pursues research on medicinal plants. We seek a true two-way partnership with Bulgaria in essential oils," she elaborated. "This means introducing Bulgarian essential oils to the Chinese market to better serve our consumers, while simultaneously applying China's new quality productive forces to help Bulgarian businesses lower costs and enhance their operational efficiency."
This overture from Ningbo firms was warmly welcomed by the Bulgarian representatives, for whom it underscored the significant potential of China as the world's second-largest consumer market.
"We have operated in China for many years," stated Bulgarian business representative John Ivanov. "Thanks to our distributors in Shanghai and other regions, our brand 'AFU' has been a proven bestseller on Chinese e-commerce platforms, topping Tmall's national sales charts for facial essential oils for five years. This has revealed the tremendous purchasing power of the Chinese market to us. We are here in Ningbo hoping to establish more collaborative relationships."
Mihaela Aprilovaexplores potential collaborations with Ningbo companiesin business matchmaking sessions.
"The potential for cooperation with China is tremendous," shared Mihaela Aprilova of Ayali Group. "Our initial entry into the market was at the China-CEEC Expo here in Ningbo in May. We were able to secure five distributors in a mere six months, which demonstrates outstanding efficiency." This being her first visit to Ningbo on business, she added that she was also keen to explore the city's famous food and scenery.
Looking back, Bulgaria was the second nation to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. Significantly, this year marks the 10th anniversary of its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Meanwhile, Ningbo has been at the forefront of China-CEEC cooperation since 2014, forging a distinctive "Ningbo Path" to the cooperation and building long-standing ties with Bulgaria through trade and people-to-people exchanges.
Bulgarian business delegateslearn about product offerings at theNingbo Liaison Office of APACCCEEC and the CEEC ProductsPermanent Pavilion.
Official figures show that the total import-export value between Ningbo and Bulgaria hit 220 million USD in 2024, registering a year-on-year growth of 4.1 percent. Among the key imports into Ningbo from Bulgaria were foodstuffs, beauty cosmetics, and personal care items.
In a strategic move to deepen cooperation, APACCCEEC inaugurated its Ningbo Liaison Office in May. The office is situated within the China (Ningbo) Central and Eastern Europe Youth Innovation Center on the Old Bund, which also features a Permanent Pavilion; together, they work to display and promote diverse agricultural products from CEEC members, supporting their distribution in the Chinese market.
"Establishing the Liaison Office in Ningbo, a hub of immense business opportunity, is a privilege," remarked Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Director of APACCCEEC. "We highly recommend that Central and Eastern European enterprises establish Ningbo as a base for investment and development, and we invite them to deposit their product samples and brochures with our office. Furthermore, a roster of online and offline events will follow to further promote the entry of Bulgarian goods into China."
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