When it comes to foreign investment in the economy of Bulgaria, there are top three Member States. For the last decade, only from three European countries – Germany, Austria and the Netherlands – there are more than €16 billion investments in Bulgaria.
These figures are pointed out by the Deputy Minister of Economy, Alexander Manolev elaborating that the main investments are in sectors that generate growth, such as education and infrastructure.
2017 was the most successful in economic terms since the crisis. The growth rate is about 4 per cent, the labour market has created a record high amount of new jobs and the latest data shows that the employment rate is at its highest level over the last ten years.
According to preliminary data of the National Statistical Institute, in the third quarter of 2017, employers’ costs per hour for their employees increased by 10.7 percent. This indicates that wages are going up and Bulgaria is among the top 5 countries in the EU in economic growth.
By achieving these stats, the country has gained a reputation of a predictable and reliable partner, who keeps strict fiscal discipline. The new strategic objectives of the national economic policy are improving the business environment by reforming the administrative services, maintaining low taxes and combating tax fraud and smuggling.
Prime Minister Bojko Borisov will participate in a Summit for investments in the Western Balkans that the EBRD organizes. The Forum’s main goal is to gather the leaders of the region with potential international investors and to discuss the possibilities of attracting more support from the private, financial and public sectors to the implementation of strategic infrastructure projects in the Western Balkans.
The initiative is part of the series of summits on the development and European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. The aim is to bring the region closer to European standards and criteria for EU membership through the implementation of infrastructure projects emphasizing on gas, transport and digital connectivity.
