Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Dimitar Danchev participated in the opening ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the University of Food Technologies (UFT) in Plovdiv.
‘The food and beverage sector employs nearly 72 thousand people, which is 15% of those employed in the industry, making it a very important sector with a high share in the country’s economic indicators,’ Deputy Minister Danchev emphasized. According to him, in 2022 the turnover index of enterprises in the industry will reach its highest value in the last 12 years — 36%. ‘In 2021, food exports will grow by 23% and are worth BGN 5.5 billion, which is 8% of the country’s total exports,’ added Dimitar Danchev. He emphasized that this would not be possible without the highly qualified staff that the university prepares and without the scientific and innovative activity that makes it one of the leading universities in this sector.
The Deputy Minister of Economy wished the academic staff and the students of the UFT to continue to raise the international prestige of the Bulgarian food industry. The event was attended by Valentina Taneva — Education Advisor to the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, former and current lecturers and students, representatives of the academic community and others.
The University of Food Technology was established by a decree of the Presidium of the National Assembly in June 1953 under the name of Higher Institute of Food and Flavour Industry. On 23 January 2003, by a decision of the 39th National Assembly, it was renamed the University of Food Technologies.