Staff Report
A series of high-impact meetings unfolded in Sofia during the working visit of Anna Stukkert, international media entrepreneur, investment strategist, and the visionary behind the International Investment Congress Awards. Her arrival in the Bulgarian capital was not just a calendar entry but the opening note of a strategic alliance reaching toward Cannes and beyond.
The orchestration of these meetings rested with Galina Raicheva, founder of Drustar Consulting. Raicheva’s professional focus, establishing Bulgaria as fertile ground for investment, international events, and business tourism, translates into a working model that links institutional bodies with private partners and channels them into long-term strategy.
An exclusive conversation took place 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 agenda focused on shaping the future of Bulgarian higher education, including doctoral and professorial programs, and on harmonizing the academic ecosystem with international standards.
Joining this academic thread were Svetlana Sherenkova and Milka Petrova from ULSIT, who lent their expertise to deliberations on education, public communication, governance, and cross-border academic cooperation.
Among the most consequential exchanges of the week was the meeting with Poli Karastoyanova, advisor to the Minister of Tourism and a leading authority in tourism policy and public communications. The dialogue cast Bulgaria as a destination of strategic gravity, particularly for European and global investors. The participants outlined a roadmap of engagement throughout 2026 and 2027, including future bilateral meetings and a press conference in Sofia tailored for the international investor community.
Lending media depth to the discussions, Miroslav Ivanov, Editor-in-Chief of TravelNews.bg, joined to reinforce the communication corridors linking France, Germany, and Bulgaria around the Cannes Film Festival, the International Investment Congress Awards, and Royal Gentlemen Club events.
Representing the creative economy was Vili Gospodinova, founder of LABOR8, the Bulgarian niche fragrance and cosmetics house celebrated for its concept-driven philosophy and intricate sensory storytelling. At the Cannes Film Festival 2026, Gospodinova will accept the Special Talent Award presented by the International Investment Congress Awards.
The collective work in Sofia produced firm strategic commitments.
The most prominent result is the formation of a Bulgarian delegation that will attend the Cannes Film Festival 2026, including the Beach Ball Gala Dinner and the International Investment Congress Awards by Royal Gentlemen Club on May 21. The delegation will encompass professionals from business, investment, media, academic, and expert circles, collectively framing Bulgaria as a destination of choice for capital, partnership, and visitor economy growth.
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
The autumn of 2026 will see Sofia host the International Investment Congress Awards by Royal Gentlemen Club, celebrating its 20th anniversary edition. This signature gathering will draw investors and partners from Germany, Austria, and other European countries, opening conversations around investment, tourism development, and economic collaboration.
Lacrima, a Bulgarian dairy producer with roots stretching back to 1959, will join the congress as a partner and sponsor and will be recognized at the International Investment Congress Awards, embodying Bulgarian production craftsmanship and heritage on the world stage.
Across every conversation, one theme remained constant: Bulgaria’s accelerating identity as a destination for investment tourism, a place where economic possibility, cultural richness, and international cooperation are increasingly intertwined.
