The history of today’s Ministry of Economy and Industry begins in 1879. Then, in Art. 161 of the Constitution adopted by the Constituent National Assembly in Veliko Tarnovo proposes the creation of 7 ministries. Among them is the Ministry of Public buildings, Agriculture and Trade.
After a discussion, the First ordinary assembly accepts the number of ministries to be 6. Therefore, the agricultural management in Knyazeska Bulgaria is granted to the Ministry of Finance through Decree No 23 of 9 August 1879. There is a separate Department for state properties together with ores. Mr. Ivan Dimov Goshev is appointed as his sub-chief.
By Decree No. 463 of 1882 of Prince Alexander I, the Ministry of Public Buildings, Agriculture and Trade was established. After only two and a half years, however, its functions were terminated because they did not comply with the provisions of the Tarnovo Constitution.
The Fourth Great National Assembly proposes a change in the Tarnovo Constitution, which also affects Art. 161 dealing with the question of the number of ministries.
In issue 107 of the State Gazette of May 25, 1893, Prince Ferdinand’s Proclamation to the Bulgarian People on the establishment of the first legal Ministry of Trade and Agriculture was published. Panayot Slavkov was appointed as his minister. Within the competence of the newly created Ministry are a large part of the branches of the national economy – agriculture, animal husbandry, forests, water, mines, crafts, industry, internal and external trade, professional agricultural and craft schools.
From that moment until 1999, today’s Ministry of Economy and Industry was transformed and renamed numerous times: Ministry of National Economy; trade, industry and labor; trade and food; industry and crafts; industry; heavy industry; foreign trade; trade; domestic trade; Technical Progress Committee; State Committee for Science and Technical Progress; State Committee on Science, Technical Progress and Higher Education; Ministry of Chemistry and Metallurgy; domestic trade and services; foreign economic relations; light industry; mechanical engineering and metallurgy; mechanical engineering; mechanical engineering and electronics; metallurgy; Business Council; State Committee for Science and Technical Progress; State Committee on Research and Technology; Ministry of Economy and Planning; trade and foreign economic relations; industry, trade and services; industry and commerce; trade; economic development.
Establishment of the Ministry of economy 1999-2001
In 1999, a Ministry of economy was established by a Decision of the national Assembly on 21 December. This is the result of the consolidation of the Ministry of industry and the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism.
The two ministries are successors of title to the Ministry of industry and Trade and its previous Ministry of industry Trade and services, established in 1990, immediately after the 1989 changes.
In 1992, the Ministry of industry and Trade was split into the Ministry of industry and the Ministry of Trade.
In 1995, the Ministry of Trade was transformed into the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations.
In the following years, after the closure of the Tourism Committee, its structure was merged into the Ministry of Trade and thus the Ministry of Trade and Tourism was established.
In March 2005 the Ministry of Culture was transformed into the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The new ministry’s own name shows that the economy ministry is a separate portfolio of tourism.
Establishment of the Ministry of economy and Energy 2005-2009
On 16 August 2005 a new government was elected by a national Assembly decision, where the Ministry of economy is United with the Ministry of Energy and Energy resources and the Ministry of economy and Energy (MEE) was established.
Elections for the 41 national Assembly were held in 2009. In forming the government, it is decided that tourism would move to the Ministry of economy and Energy. The national Assembly decision of 27 July 2009 defining the structure of the Council of Ministers established the Ministry of economy, Energy and Tourism (MEET). At the time of the establishment of the ministry, there is still a state agency for tourism. It was closed in October 2009 and its archives and assets are moved to MEET.
In 2013 , the Ministry of economy, Energy and Tourism was transformed into the Ministry of economy and Energy. There is an idea to separate the tourism branch into an independent structure again, but it was not realized and tourism remains as a department in the ministry, without it appearing in its name.
On November 7, 2014 the Ministry of economy and Tourism was closed by a decision of the national Assembly, and three separate ministries were established: Ministry of economy, Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Tourism. The same were the successors in title of the old Ministry.
On 13 December 2021, at an extraordinary meeting, the 47 national Assembly adopted a decision to elect a government structure and composition. The Ministry of economy (ME) is divided to the Ministry of economy and industry and the Ministry of Innovation and Growth. The two ministries are successors in title to ME.