During a visit to Sofia, UK trade and investment minister Lord Digby Jones discussed with Deputy Defence Minister Simeon Nikolov the topics of Bulgaria’s military modernisation and the achievements of the Bulgarian defence industry, according to a defence ministry statement on April 24.

Nikolov invited UK companies to Bulgaria’s Hemus 2008 international armaments and equipment exhibition, to be held from May 28 to 30, and to an international conference to be hosted by Bulgaria on high technology and the fight against terrorism.

Jones said that the UK Defence Industry Days held in Bulgaria last year had produced good results, the defence ministry statement said.

Jones told Nikolov that the UK appreciated the participation of Bulgarian military personnel in missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Earlier, Jones met Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov, and briefed Borissov on the UK experience in industry, business, the environment and water sector, Focus news agency reported.