He noted that, in the first four months of 2025, foreign direct investment increased by 27.5% compared to the same period last year
“A key priority for the Ministry of Economy and Industry is to build and reinforce trust in Bulgaria as a reliable economic partner and an attractive location for investment and business.” This was stated by Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, Dontcho Barbalov, during the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) with foreign ambassadors accredited to Bulgaria.
During the event, Deputy Minister Barbalov emphasised that all companies choosing to invest and operate in Bulgaria can rely on the government’s consistent commitment to building a sustainable and competitive business environment. He noted that the beginning of 2025 has shown encouraging investment data. “Foreign direct investment in Bulgaria amounted to EUR 1.116 billion from the start of the year through the end of April. The net inflow of direct investment into the country was EUR 241 million higher than in the first four months of the previous year, representing an annual growth of 27.5%,” the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry said, citing data from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB).
He was adamant that Bulgaria offers a stable institutional and economic environment. “We are now part of the Schengen Area, with unrestricted access to the EU Single Market and facilitated trade flows. We are making steady progress towards joining the Eurozone in January 2026,” Barbalov added.
During the meeting, it was also confirmed that Bulgaria’s accession process to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is at an advanced stage. “This means greater predictability and adherence to the highest international standards in the business environment. We expect that our accession to the OECD will strengthen investor confidence,” Deputy Minister Barbalov added.
In conclusion, the Deputy Minister of Economy highlighted the development of a national network of industrial parks and zones, which offer ready-to-use infrastructure and opportunities for research and development. “We aim for these parks to become hubs for modern industrial and digital infrastructure, energy and resource efficiency, and environments that support the employment of a highly skilled workforce,” he stated.