‘We are working to improve the business climate in Bulgaria and to foster the conditions for businesses to operate efficiently. This was said by Deputy Minister of Economy Ivaylo Shotev at a discussion meeting on ‘Innovation as a leading factor in the development of enterprises and regions 2024 — challenges and opportunities’. The event was organized by the Council for Innovation, Digitalization and New Technologies at the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). Deputy Minister Shotev stated the support of the Ministry of Economy and Industry for Bulgarian business to cope with the challenges. In his words, the work on Bulgaria’s membership in Schengen, the euro area and its accession to the OECD continues, which will promote the country’s economic development.
During the event, he focused on the policies implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Industry to support the activities of enterprises in Bulgaria and to promote their competitiveness. ‘Our goal is to develop a knowledge-based economy by increasing the share of high-tech manufacturing and services, by raising the level of digitalization and by increasing the level of automation and robotization of enterprises,’ Deputy Minister Shotev emphasized.
As another priority in the work of the Ministry of Economy and Industry, he pointed to the opening of new markets for companies to third countries. ‘Last year we started active talks on expanding the markets for Bulgarian companies to third countries, outside the EU,’ he said. According to Deputy Minister Shotev, this year the focus will be on new markets such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Japan. He pointed out that the representatives of the Trade and Economic Affairs Offices (TEAOs) will support the process of opening new opportunities for Bulgarian companies and their entry into foreign markets.
During the discussion meeting Deputy Minister Shotev emphasized the active actions of the Ministry for the development of industrial zones in Bulgaria. According to him, the prepared land will attract new investment projects in the country. Ivaylo Shotev emphasized that industrial parks should develop in parallel and focus on specific industries with high added value.