The Balkan region possesses significant economic potential which, at present, remains not fully utilised and represents a challenge requiring targeted efforts to improve the connectivity of economies in areas such as infrastructure, trade, investment, human capital, and digital transformation, and others.
This was stated by Minister of Economy and Industry Peter Dilov in his address at the International Conference “The Balkans for Peace, Security, Cooperation and Partnership.” The forum was organised by the Strategic Institute for National Policies and Ideas (SINPI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Industry, and was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, SINPI Chair Kaloyan Pargov, and representatives of regional business organisations.
“Our region has both the opportunity and the responsibility to become a bridge between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. This is not merely a geographical advantage but a strategic opportunity that we must harness through investment, innovation, and regional partnerships,” emphasised the Minister of Economy.
According to him, Bulgaria, as a country located at the heart of this region, sees enormous potential in deepening regional economic integration. “This does not only mean the free movement of goods, services, and capital, but also the implementation of joint infrastructure projects, the synchronisation of industrial policies, digital connectivity, and collaborative work on innovation and the green transition,” he underlined.
Dilov also highlighted specific measures undertaken and supported by the Ministry of Economy and Industry, such as the development of cross-border industrial zones and logistics corridors, the establishment of regional hubs for innovation, digital technologies, and the green economy, and the facilitation of investment among countries in the region through the harmonisation of legislation and the digitalisation of administrative services, among others.
“The common economic area is not merely a map with borders. It is a platform for shared goals and results. To build it, we must believe in the potential of our peoples, in the power of cooperation, and in the vision of long-term connectivity – economic, infrastructural, and cultural,” Minister Dilov concluded.