Working visit recently brought Anna Stukkert, international media entrepreneur, investment strategist, and founder of the International Investment Congress Awards, to Sofia, where a tightly curated week of dialogue laid the groundwork for Bulgaria’s next chapter on the international stage.
The engine behind the entire program was Galina Raicheva, founder of Drustar Consulting, whose professional vocation is to position Bulgaria as a magnet for investment, international events, and business tourism. By weaving together public institutions and private-sector partners, Raicheva continues to translate national potential into measurable international visibility.
Among the cornerstone meetings was an in-depth dialogue with Hristina Hristova, Professor and Doctor of Political Science and Dean of the Faculty of Library Science and Cultural Heritage at the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (ULSIT). The discussion explored the next stage of Bulgarian higher education, particularly doctoral and professorial development, alongside the country’s growing role in international academic exchange.
The academic conversation deepened with input from Svetlana Sherenkova and Milka Petrova of ULSIT, who broadened the discussion to include education policy, public communication, governance, and global academic cooperation.
The strategic centerpiece of the visit was a working session with Poli Karastoyanova, advisor to the Minister of Tourism and a respected expert in tourism policy and public communications. The participants articulated Bulgaria’s value proposition as a strategically positioned destination for European and global investors, and they mapped out a coordinated engagement plan across 2026 and 2027, including future bilateral meetings and an international press conference in Sofia for the investor community.
The discussion expanded to include Miroslav Ivanov, Editor-in-Chief of TravelNews.bg, whose editorial mission focuses on building cooperation between France, Germany, and Bulgaria within the framework of the Cannes Film Festival, the International Investment Congress Awards, and Royal Gentlemen Club events.
The creative pulse of the meetings was carried by Vili Gospodinova, founder of LABOR8, a Bulgarian niche fragrance and cosmetics brand recognized for its concept-driven philosophy and personalized sensory experiences. Gospodinova will be honored with the Special Talent Award at the International Investment Congress Awards during the Cannes Film Festival 2026.
The visit produced a series of carefully shaped strategic agreements.
The flagship outcome is the participation of an official Bulgarian delegation at the Cannes Film Festival 2026, attending the Beach Ball Gala Dinner and the International Investment Congress Awards by Royal Gentlemen Club on May 21. The delegation will reflect a cross-section of Bulgarian excellence, drawing from business, investment, media, academia, and expertise, and will introduce Bulgaria to international audiences as a destination ripe for cooperation, capital, and visitor experiences.
Honorary guests of the International Investment Congress Awards and Royal Gentlemen Club Gala Dinner:
- Laurent Anselmi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Monaco (2019–2022)
- H.E. Ambassador of Egypt to France M. Tarek Dahroug and his wife Mrs. Aliaa El-Serafi
Sofia will then take center stage in autumn 2026, when the International Investment Congress Awards by Royal Gentlemen Club returns for its landmark 20th anniversary edition. The forum will gather investors and partners from Germany, Austria, and other European countries to engage in candid dialogue on investment, tourism development, and economic cooperation.
Among the leading partners of the upcoming congress is Lacrima, a Bulgarian dairy producer founded in 1959 and an enduring symbol of national craftsmanship. Lacrima will participate as a partner and sponsor and will receive recognition at the International Investment Congress Awards, representing the heritage and resilience of Bulgarian production on the international stage.
Throughout every meeting, one principle stood out clearly: Bulgaria is rapidly emerging as a destination for investment tourism, a country where economic vitality, cultural depth, and international cooperation are forming a single, forward-moving narrative.
