Minister Pulev: We note a record exchange of goods with Germany - over 11 billion euros in 2022

German and French companies are among the most active investors in our country. Bulgaria is open for business, we are increasing the confidence of investors. This was stated by the Minister of Innovation and Growth Alexander Pulev during a working meeting together with the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy Hristo Alexiev before representatives of the French-Bulgarian and German-Bulgarian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Among the official guests of the event were H.E. Irene Plank, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bulgaria and H.E. Joel Meyer, ambassador of France in our country.

Minister Pulev pointed out that the debt between Bulgaria and Germany reached 11.1 billion. Europe for the first eleven months of 2022. According to him, in Bulgaria, nearly 4,000 German-owned companies have been registered, which represent about 60,000 jobs in the city. "Only through the Bulgarian Investment Agency, 52 investment projects of German companies in our country have been certified," he added.

The Minister of Innovation and Growth pointed out that France is also one of our key foreign trade partners. "Only for the period January-October 2022, the exchange of goods between Bulgaria and France amounts to more than 2 billion euros. He added that direct foreign investments from France in Bulgaria so far are over 1 billion euros.

During the meeting, the opportunities for investments in green hydrogen, the automotive industry, as well as the development of carbon-neutral industrial zones to attract investors were discussed. "Currently, despite the political instability and international crises, there is a strong interest in our country from investors from Europe and Asia," Pulev emphasized. He stated that the automotive industry is the fastest growing sector in our economy and accounts for over 10% of GDP. We also have many development centers related to the automotive industry," he added.

By the end of March, they are expected to launch public procurement for the supply and maintenance of new trains and locomotives. This was stated by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Hristo Alexiev during the meeting. Prospects for the renewal of the national railway infrastructure and opportunities for public-private partnership were among the main topics that the business representatives raised.

Hristo Alexiev pointed out that the Ministry of Transport and Communications intends to develop the potential of some key sites, including the port of Varna, through the mechanisms of public-private partnership. In this regard, the Varna-East port terminal and the Varna-West port terminal are included in the Action Plan for state concessions for the period 2021-2027.

Regarding the opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, Minister Pulev pointed out that on August 2, the interim government found zero approved European programs under the structural funds. "After full mobilization, the official cabinet secured approval from the EC for all 10 European programs for BGN 20 billion for business," he said. According to him, 2 programs were approved only through MIG. "The first is the new Competitiveness program for BGN 3 billion, and the second is the new research and innovation program for BGN 2 billion, which is for cooperation between business and science.

"Regarding the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, we are the most active ministry, we have visited all the districts in the state. We already have two procedures open and closed for applications for Technological Modernization and for ICT solutions, which ended with very high interest in them. One of the most long-awaited procedures for business under the Plan is currently open - for the construction of photovoltaic installations and batteries for local energy storage. The procedure has been open since February 14, and its budget is BGN 200 million," said Pulev. He announced that the measure is aimed not only at micro-, small, and medium-sized companies, but also at companies with up to 3,000 employees from almost all economic sectors, and every company registered in Bulgaria can benefit from this procedure.

"With great interest in the measure, we are committed to doing everything possible now that the application process for the additional resource under the REPowerEU mechanism has opened to increase this limit so that the funds reach all companies that have met the criteria and of the requirements of the procedure", he emphasized.

According to him, during the MIG it is planned to open new procedures under PVA and structural funds in the first 6 months of 2023 for BGN 1.2 billion, which will go to business.