ANDREY GURKOVSKY: “SELECTIVE IMMIGRATION IS AN ALARMING TREND”

ANDREY GURKOVSKY: “SELECTIVE IMMIGRATION IS AN ALARMING TREND”

“How would you identify your place within the various generations of Bulgarian immigrants?”

“My generation of immigrants has been cut off from our native country for over 20 years. We have been excluded from the Bulgarian community and have been branded as ‘traitors’. To be able to live normal meaningful lives, we had to forcefully forget where we came from. I, personally, realized in a most poignant way I had done it when I arrived in Casablanca on a three year working contract. I placed the keys from my house in Paris on the table and I said to myself: “I won’t need them for at least three years now.” That meant I would be away from home, which by that time meant Paris. Later on, fate’s fickle finger wished so that I move from one place to another, the world over, so I finally forgot all about where I came from...

“When did you come back to Bulgaria again?”

“Ever since 1991, I have been coming back here almost every month. It turned out, that in the depths of my soul, I hadn’t forgotten my native country and I immediately started showing a keen interest in everything going on here. Unlike my generation of expatriates, those who left for France or US in the last ten years, they have a completely different attitude to their sense of identity.  They don’t seem to have any sense of national belonging, living in the age of globalization and high tech revolution. Rather they feel like citizens of the world and are ready to move from one country to another, moreover there is a trend of national differences getting blurred in many respects.

“How do you view the role of the Bulgarian Diaspora in the development of this country?”

“The overall number of Bulgarians, living abroad comes up roughly to about 2, 500 000 people. In spite of the fact that according to Bulgarian legislation, we are not eligible to being elected to key positions, we amount to a significant political force, which is entitled to representation in Parliament. But, we, generally do have an openly critical attitude to the negative trends  here, that because of this we happen to be inconvenient. No matter, which Western country we live in, we tend to share a mentality, values and criteria quite unlike the Balkan ones. Most of us do believe that decent hard work is the only worthy way of personal fulfillment in a civil society.

“What is your attitude to the Bulgarian project of Euro-integration?”

“For us, Bulgarians, living abroad, this is certainly a positive development of things and it will facilitate and give a boost to our trad4e and economic activities here. The experience of Portugal and Greece is often referred to within the context of a more successful preparation for EU membership. But, we must bear in mind that the success story of Portugal is not primarily due to EU subsidies as much as the impetus, given by expatriates who returned from the ex-colonies during the second half of the 70’s, Most of them were people of entrepreneurial spirit, big money and know-how. If we assume that half a million Bulgarians of such a caliber come back, I am convinced that things will improve quite soon.

“Would you tell us about the Greek way of getting ready for EU membership?”

“After the fall of the military regime in the 70’s, thousands of seriously rich Greek expatriates came back to their mother country. For instance, at that time, I attended negotiations with Onassis concerning the construction of a power station in Ptolomeis, which is in Greek Macedonia. Enterprises on this scale bolstered up in a major way the economic prosperity of the country. Moreover, there must be more a million and a half Greeks the world over who own and run a business on a really big scale. While, in contrast, there are few Bulgarians who are millions of dollars worth.

“Would you comment on the “Bulgarian way” in adopting the principles of market economy?

“My observations for the last ten years make me think that hire, like in the West, an exchange of favors takes place, but with a difference. Here, the procedure implies elimination of the competitor, i. e. the rivals don’t get a fair equal chance of competing. In the West, power and influence are used in order to manage to secure better conditions for doing business, but this does not imply an absolute priority for a given competitor who is being favored, such opportunities are provided for the rest of the candidates. That means that doing favors or exchanging them works in a positive constructive direction, it bolsters the competitive power of the rivals in a given area.

What do you think about the lack of protectionism on the Bulgarian market?

I, personally, think that the lack of protectionism on the Bulgarian market makes things look dramatic. You can’t enact the laws of the free market in case there is a significant difference between the investment level in one country, compared to others. If you turn to Japan and Germany, you will notice that there is a marked preference for local production. And to give a chance to Bulgarian products to make a breakthrough on the world market, it is necessary to create a number of conditions - in the least 5, 000,000 dollars investment, surmounting enormous administrative hurdles and observing very high criteria.

“Are there good prospects for higher investment levels in this country in the near future?”

The want of capital on the world market is tremendous and none is going to invest 50 0r 60 million dollars in a high-risk environment. And the Bulgarian economy at present needs at least 15-20 million dollars to get it going. But such a lump of money has to be correctly invested and well managed. Are there competent people who are capable of this? Without taking the wrong step or being tempted into embezzlement. My impression is that a proper market way of thinking and reflexes are still missing here.

For instance,  a transportation company, let me not name it, could not secure me haulage of some merchandise from the Croatian border. How could they finally state: “This cannot be done!”

“What is your opinion about the “brain drain” trend in the last ten years?”

This is an alarming trend  f late, there were only individual cases earlier, while now it has turned into a mass1ive trend. Each specialist brings 180 000 dollars to the recipient country. And the US and Canada have a consistent national policy of selective immigration in this respect. It is dangerous for any society to continually invest into the education and qualification of potential emigrants.

“Which, according to you, is the best form of participation of foreigners and Bulgarians in the economic activities of this country?”

I, personally, think that this the joint venture company. Because the foreigner comes here with a good knowledge of the market and a confidence that a certain product can manufactured here at a competitive level of quality. You can see examples of such a form of cooperation everywhere round Bulgaria. Look at the success story of “Ideal-Sevlievo”, for example. They are manufacturing faucets, batteries, fixtures etc. The local manager who is Bulgarian can best solve the problem with the personnel selection and the range of the wage. This is the most prospective and optimal option of international collaboration presently. But, it will take this country quite some time to get in pace with world standards of quality and sophistication, but I believe it will happen rather sooner than later ...

Interviewed by Dr. Xenia Kisselincheva

Sofia Echo weekly, 2003