A government decision established the Dobroslavtsi Economic Zone, which is the first sector-oriented industrial zone in the country with a focus on the automotive industry. This was announced during a joint briefing by the Minister of Economy and Industry Nikola Stojanov and the Minister of Innovation and Growth Alexander Pulev.
‘With this action, we are giving a clear signal that the state is setting a serious priority at the national level in a specific sector of our economy. Bulgaria has made great progress in the automotive industry in a very short time and with this decision we are responding to the increased demand from various companies,’ Minister Nikola Stojanov said. According to him, the sector employs 300 companies, providing more than 67 000 jobs, and today 80% of the sensors of cars in Europe are manufactured in Bulgaria.
Minister Stojanov explained that a new subsidiary is to be established, which will be subordinated to the National Company of Industrial Zones PLC, which will manage and develop the newly formed economic zone. ‘We want to use the accumulated expertise of the NCIZ in the management and development of such zones, but at the same time we will give the new structure the operationality to be as flexible as possible and to ensure its sectoral specialization,’ Nikola Stojanov further said.
Minister of Innovation and Growth Alexander Pulev said the zone will be home to clean manufacturing that will meet all European best practices and the needs of the people in the region. He pointed out that road and rail infrastructure is to be built, as well as all the facilities needed for the investors’ purposes. The investment also provides for the construction of social infrastructure — green areas, bike paths, charging stations for electric cars, it became clear during the briefing.
‘In recent months we have been in very active dialogue with a number of investors from Europe, the Middle East, Asia with a focus on the Automotive sector and all related industries,’ the Minister of Innovation and Growth added, stressing that the establishment of the new zone is a key prerequisite for success in these negotiations.
Dobroslavtsi Economic Zone will be built on the site of the former military airport in the area and will cover an area of 290 hectares. This is the first zone of its kind in Bulgaria, which has a sectoral specialization on one of the fastest growing industries in the country — automotive.