Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as the main engine of any economy, are crucial to local economies. Creating the conditions for business and the successful development of a local SME ecosystem would help overcome regional inequalities and contribute to the demographic revitalisation of our country. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nikolay Pavlov during a forum on “The demographic future of the regions”. The event was organized by the media group “Standard” and was held in the town of Etropole.
During the conference, Nikolay Pavlov focused on the work of the Ministry of Economy and Industry to promote small and medium-sized enterprises and for their business to bring added value. “We are working to open additional opportunities for our companies to enter foreign markets,” the deputy minister added. Nikolay Pavlov stressed that efforts are needed to tackle regional imbalances, as currently small and medium-sized enterprises are mainly concentrated in 5 regions – Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Blagoevgrad and Sofia,” he added.
During the conference, Pavlov recalled that the main focus of the policy of the Ministry of Economy and Industry is the construction of industrial parks and zones, which is a leading factor in attracting new investors. “In the past year, the opening of two new industrial zones was launched – in Dobroslavtsi and in Stara Zagora,” the deputy minister added, stressing that this is another incentive to attract companies with high value-added industries in strategic regions. In his words, an additional incentive is the presence of large companies that are willing to invest constantly to increase the prosperity of the regions.
In conclusion, Deputy Minister Pavlov focused on the National Industrial Strategy for the future industrial policy of the country, which is currently being developed by the Ministry of Economy. According to him, the Strategy will include two sectors of our economy – manufacturing and extractive industries. The main themes that are set out in the document are the reduction of the industry’s carbon footprint, the increase in the digitalisation of production, the improvement of resource and energy efficiency, the introduction of circular production models and the promotion of investor interest in the country’s industrial parks.
Deputy Minister Pavlov said that in the medium term, active programmes for dual education and training are being considered, with priority targeted at areas where we want to create new jobs and in areas that are changing their economic profile.