Bulgarian President to be received by Queen during official visit to UK
Bulgarian President Rossen Plevneliev will pay a three-day official visit to the UK from March 17 to 19 2014, the British government said.
The visit will involve a series of meetings focusing on the business opportunities between Britain and Bulgaria. As part of the programme, Plevneliev will be received by Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Edward will welcome the President to Buckingham Palace before the audience with the Queen.
Plevneliev will be accompanied by a delegation of Bulgarian business leaders, who will have the chance to explore trade and business opportunities with their British counterparts, the British statement said.
The business leaders will attend a UKTI business forum, aimed at introducing Bulgarian and UK business, as well as a gala lunch with leaders from London’s Financial Sector that will be hosted by former Lord Mayor of London Sir David Wootton and attended by the Duke of Kent.
On March 18, UK foreign secretary William Hague will host a reception for prominent Bulgarians in the UK and British citizens associated with Bulgaria. The guest list includes the mother of Plamen Petkov, who was recently awarded a posthumous bravery award by the Queen.
On March 19, Plevneliev will deliver a speech on the process of European and Euro-Atlantic integration in South-Eastern Europe at Chatham House.
Plevneliev will also meet British political leaders, among them deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, foreign secretary Hague, the Speaker of the house of commons John Bercow, ministers and senior officials from the departments for business, innovation and skills and the foreign office.
Jonathan Allen, UK ambassador in Sofia, said that the visit by the Bulgarian President “reflects the importance of the relationship between our two countries, their peoples, and our growing commercial ties. The visit is a great opportunity to take that relationship forward.”
