Roses cultivated in Valley of Roses to produce
Courtesy Sam and Sarah Stulberg

Drying tobacco, one of Bulgaria's major export crops, Melnik
Courtesy Sam and Sarah Stulberg

Membership in Comecon tied Bulgarian trade policy closely to the Soviet economic sphere following World War II. By 1991, however, trade policy was on the verge of significant diversification. With the trade protection of Comecon no longer available, Bulgaria aggressively sought new markets in the West while seeking to retain the most advantageous commercial relations with its former Comecon partners.

Data as of June 1992