The New Year’s Reception of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) traditionally marks one of the highlights of the association’s annual agenda, which now maintains networks in more than 100 countries worldwide. Following the honour of welcoming former Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz in 2025, the BWA was this year able to receive as guest of honour and keynote speaker the then-outgoing President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Dr. Rumen Radev.

In his address, Radev - who served as Head of State of Bulgaria for more than nine years (22 January 2017 - 23 January 2026) - not only highlighted the positive momentum in German-Bulgarian economic relations, but also addressed the broader challenges facing Europe in a changing global order.

Although the reception took place on the final day of the Munich Security Conference, it was met with exceptionally strong attendance by invited guests. Numerous members, partners and supporters, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps and decision-makers from academia and politics, spent an afternoon engaged in intensive discussions at the Berlin representation of the globally active electric vehicle manufacturer NIO, located near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the heart of the capital.