Minister Bogdanov: Bulgaria can become a regional hub for microelectronics

The Microelectronics and Mechatronics sector is one of the fastest developing and most innovative in the Bulgarian economy. It is among the key industries for future growth and investment in our country. This was stated by the Minister of Economy and Industry, Bogdan Bogdanov, during a round table to promote cooperation between the United Kingdom and Bulgaria in the field of semiconductors and microelectronics, which was moderated by the ambassador of Great Britain to our country, H.E. Rob Dixon.

"We have a huge potential in the field of microelectronics, but we must concentrate our efforts in specific directions, such as creating new products, designing chips and electronic sensors, manufacturing components for robotics," said Minister Bogdanov.

According to him, our country has great opportunities to attract investors in the sector, as well as sufficient expertise and trained engineers. "More and more development centers of international companies from various sectors are opening in our country, which creates an additional incentive for the development of the industry," he added.

"We are actively working to create a favorable institutional environment for business operations, including the construction of prepared industrial grounds and opportunities for the development of research and development activities, as well as the positioning of training centers in them," said Bogdanov.

"Our ambition is to change the economic face of the country. The future lies in the development of technologies with high added value, and Bulgaria is increasingly becoming a competitive destination in the region and Europe," the minister emphasized. According to him, our country has a proven engineering capacity and we are no longer a destination for cheap labor. "With the raw materials and components we produce, in the coming years we can be an important factor in the supply chain," Bogdanov also said.

At the forum, organized by the British Embassy, the possibilities for building partnerships between the two countries were discussed. British experts shared experience and good practices, the idea of developing a regional microelectronics center in Bulgaria based on English experience with centers and training programs was presented. In our country, over 400 companies work in the mechatronics, electronics and microelectronics sectors and make a serious contribution to the development of the economy, employing about 60,000 people. They are export-oriented and have some of the most modern productions and highly qualified personnel.

“I see great potential for partnership with the UK in the sector. Together, we can play a key role in the international market," the Minister of Economy pointed out.

The event was also attended by Deputy Minister Nikolay Pavlov, Deputy Ministers of Regional Development and Public Works Angelina Boneva and Finance Ivaylo Yajdzhiev, representatives of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, university professors, heads of leading companies from both countries working in the field of microelectronics and semiconductors, as well as representatives of business organizations.