The two expressed their readiness to seek ways to boost two-way trade and discussed a number of issues relating to the implementation of the common EU agricultural policy.
Ambassador Tove Skarstein pointed out that Norway tries to observe fishing quotas. Minister Naydenov noted that Bulgaria, too, has quotas for catching turbot in the Black Sea and is seeking support to set the quotas on the basis of a scientific approach. As an example of trade opportunities with great potential, Ambassador Skarstein stressed that Norway can sell fish to Bulgaria, and Bulgaria can sucessfully sell its wines in Norway.
Bulgarian-Norwegian trade in agricultural goods increased to 3,752,000 US dollars in 2009 from 2,353,000 dollars in 2006, the Agriculture and Food Ministry said. The period saw an increase in Bulgarian agricultural exports to Norway. In 2009, Bulgarian agricultural exports to the Scandinavian country stood at 2,212,000 dollars, according to the National Statistical Institute in Sofia. These exports were dominated by sunflower seed, pastry and animal feed. Agricultural imports from Norway to Bulgaria in 2009 stood at 1,540,000 dollars, dominated by fish and fish products.