Greece has the ambition to be Bulgaria's top investor and trading partner, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis said at the Bulgarian-Greek forum, which opened January 22 in the framework of Greece’s Prime Minister Costas Simitis’s visit in Bulgaria. Currently the country ranks second in investments in Bulgaria and fourth among Bulgaria’s trading partners. The Greek officials pointed out that there are about 800 Greek companies in Bulgaria, which employ more than 70,000 Bulgarians. According to data presented at the forum 20% of the assets at Bulgarian banks are owned by Greek investors