On October 21, 2025, lecturers from the Department of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration organized a joint seminar with Prof. Dr. Guido Agostinelli, professor of Macroeconomics and Economic Policy at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Ms. Lucrecia Vanni, President of the Argentine-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce. The seminar was dedicated to current issues in the development of the Bulgarian economy on the eve of joining the euro area, as well as to the results of economic reforms being implemented in Argentina.

During the seminar, participants discussed the state of the Bulgarian economy and the expected effects of euro area accession, compared with other Member States; labour productivity and the activities of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria, which are the focus of a research project funded by the National Science Fund; the management of state-owned enterprises; as well as current directions of government policy and long-term economic reforms. The Argentine colleagues shared insights on opportunities to activate Argentina’s economic potential and the challenges of implementing reforms and stabilization measures aimed at curbing inflation, strengthening the national currency, and creating a more favorable environment for investment and growth – including by promoting trade relations between Bulgaria and Argentina. Special emphasis was placed on the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur and its bilateral implications, which are also examined in a project of the Department of Economics under Sofia University’s internal research fund.

The seminar represented a successful continuation of the contacts established in 2024 between Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and the University of Buenos Aires, following the signing of a bilateral agreement between the two institutions to deepen cooperation in research. The date of the event also coincided with the 123rd anniversary of the founding of the Department of Economics, which contributed to the positive and friendly atmosphere.

After the seminar, Prof. Dr. Stefan Petranov from the Department of Economics answered questions from the Argentine colleagues in a special interview, which will be published on Prof. Agostinelli’s social media channel, followed by more than 20,000 subscribers from around the world.