Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nevena Lazarova held a working meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Association of Metallurgical Industry (BAMI) and the defence sector. The main topic of the meeting was the potential for closer cooperation between the two sectors in the context of European programmes that support the defence industry.
Deputy Minister Lazarova stressed that the metallurgical and defence industries are strategic for the country’s economy, and building links between them is key in the face of global challenges and the growing demands for industrial sustainability.
According to her, the Bulgarian metallurgical industry has a significant capacity to be actively involved in the implementation of projects under the European Defence Fund (EDF), as well as through the SAFE Regulation, which opens up new opportunities for participation in supply chains related to critical raw materials and products.
“Companies in the sector can participate in the production of safety components, steel for armour, specialized aluminium and titanium alloys, as well as in projects to restore production capabilities in critical sectors. Metallurgical companies have a real opportunity to partner with defence enterprises within industrial consortia, including through cross-border cooperation,” the Deputy Minister added.
BAMI representatives pointed out that the Bulgarian industry has high technical readiness, modern low-emission facilities and is already implementing sustainable production practices that meet European industrial priorities. With strategic support from institutions, the sector can take stronger market positions and contribute to the development of a competitive and innovative economy.
For its part, the defence sector was named as a leader in industrial turnover relative to the size of the country. Its representatives emphasised that with many years of visionary work and mainly private investment, specific projects and technological solutions that already meet the objectives of the European industrial policy have been developed.
Lazarova stated that the Ministry of Economy and Industry will continue to support inter-industry connectivity, and that the creation of a platform for sustainable cooperation and implementation of joint projects between industries is currently underway.