II.  LEADING TRADE PROSPECTS FOR U.S. BUSINESS

The keys to identifying trade prospects in Bulgaria is a better
understanding of Bulgaria's complex and transitional market.
First, the country has been poorly served for decades and in that
regard, demand is pent-up for products across-the-board.  Second,
the Bulgarian economy has suffered from several shocks and both
the public and private sectors cannot be directly compared to
spending levels in the West.  Third, Bulgaria is an advanced
transitional economy demanding products well above the less-
developed country category and one where the consumer is
frequently highly educated.  Fourth, Bulgaria is a European
country with aspirations to be European in many respects
including emulating life-styles and levels technology.  Finally,
Bulgaria is a country that demands attention politically and
economically from the developed world, in that Bulgaria is
geopolitically critical and its success is vindication of the
market system over the command economy of the past.  Bulgaria
receives support from the G-24 and the international financial
institutions commensurate with its progress on achieving a full
market economy.

In brief summary, the following categories should assist the U.S.
exporter and investor in focusing on commercial opportunities:

1) purchases for major projects committed to by the International
   Financial Institutions
2) sales to reliable high revenue generating sectors of the
   economy such as commercial, tourist, and resident foreign
   communities
3) self-generating revenue projects such as in
   telecommunications, hotels and transport
4) unique and competitive consumer products
5) internationally competitive U.S. products such as low-sulfur
   coal, computers, pharmaceuticals, or other medical products
6) high priority national projects such as environmental clean-up
   or air traffic control systems
7) Americana items such as "fast food" or casual wear clothing
8) In the Agricultural sector, leading trade prospects are (in
   order of estimated importance) are:  Soybean meal, corn, tobacco,
   rice, cotton, high value food products and animal genetics
   materials.