NEWS

Rosen Plevneliev: The Favorable Business Environment and Efficient Institutions Will Motivate Investors to Choose Bulgaria

2014-10-31 14:13:00

Only by encouraging investments can we quickly create new and well-paid jobs and the favorable business environment and efficient institutions are of crucial importance for motivating investors to choose Bulgaria.  This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said, who opened a Bulgarian-Austrian business forum together with his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer in Sofia Hotel Balkan today.

The Head of State emphasized that Austria is Bulgaria’s strategic partner and the Austrian companies working in the country are more than 400 and are represented in all sectors of the Bulgarian economy – telecommunications, car industry, information and communication technologies, energy, food chains.  “Not only world-famous Austrian companies such as OMV, EVN, Austria Telecom are strongly represented in Bulgaria, but also small and medium-sized companies which achieve remarkable results,” the President said. The Head of State recalled that the bilateral trade exceeds one billion euros and the amount of investments from Austria has reached six billion euros.

We are working together on new large-scale projects and we will pay special attention to and fully support every investment made by Austria in Bulgaria, the Head of State emphasized. Rosen Plevneliev pointed out that OMV, the French company Total and the Spanish Repsol have obtained a concession for natural gas extraction in Bulgaria’s Black Sea shelf and the planned investment is worth more than 1.5 billion euros. “Soon Bulgaria will launch other concessions and we are convinced that together with our Romanian partners and world leaders such as OMV, EVN and other Austrian and European companies we will find alternative energy sources not only for Bulgaria, but also for Europe which we will exploit and supply to the European markets together,” the President emphasized.

The Head of State said that despite the difficulties the Bulgarian economy has been experiencing in the past years, it has achieved growth and can obtain much better results if the Bulgarian politicians work to ensure stability. “In 2015 we expect an economic growth worth 1,5 percent, the unemployment rate will approximate the EU average – less than 11 percent, the deficit will surely be less than the three-percent limit,” the President told representatives of the business environment. Rosen Plevneliev also highlighted the positive change of the structure of the investments in Bulgaria, 90 percent of which have been directed toward the real economy and the opening up of new production facilities. “I am convinced that from 2016 onwards we can achieve a growth worth three to four percent if we ensure stability and increase the transparency and predictability of the work of the institutions,” the President said.  

In the statement he made at the forum, the Head of State further highlighted Bulgaria’s strategic location as a bridge between the EU and the regions in Southeast Europe, the Black Sea and the Middle East. “We are willing to derive benefits from this location and we are working to open 25 new industrial zones, which will be open to all companies seeking a quick access to all these markets,” Rosen Plevneliev further said. The President emphasized that companies such as Siemens, Bosch and AEG have already doubled their production capacity in Bulgaria.

In Rosen Plevneliev’s words, the forthcoming development of Bulgaria’s transport infrastructure also provides opportunities for partnership with leading Austrian companies and gave as an example the construction of a 15,2 km-long tunnel in the Kresna defile as part of the future Struma highway.

In the statement he made at the forum, President Fischer said that political stability and continuity lie at the basis of Austria’s economic achievements.  “This means that the state should create all conditions – ensure the legislative framework and access to investments for the business environment, which, for its part, should alone decide what approach it will adopt to its clients and partners,” Heinz Fischer said.  The Austrian Head of State confirmed our country’s support for introducing the model of dual vocational education in Bulgaria.     

 

MORE FROM NEWS

President and UK Ambassador Discuss Cooperation in the Field of Security and the Fight against Illegal Migration

31 July 2025 | 17:05
Rumen Radev and Nathaniel Copsey discussed the fruitful partnership within NATO, as well as ensuring security in the Black Sea

The President Awarded the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands With the Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class

29 July 2025 | 17:05
In his speech, the president stressed the relationship between the two countries, based on friendship, mutual trust, and respect

Head of State Awarded the Madara Horseman Order, First Class, to the Ambassador of the French Republic

29 July 2025 | 16:04
In his speech, Radev highlighted the dynamically and comprehensively developing relations between Bulgaria and France

Rumen Radev: Success Has Accompanied Bulgarian Diplomacy When It Was Not Subject to Narrow Party Interests and Followed Clearly Formulated National Goals

22 July 2025 | 22:10
When asymmetric actions are applied to our country, we should expand our diplomatic toolset to protect national interests and, above all, the rights of our compatriots abroad, the president says on the occasion of the Day of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service

ОТКРИТО УПРАВЛЕНИЕ

e-ДОКУМЕНТИ

BULGARIAN CHRISTMAS

SUPPORT A DREAM

JOHN ATANASOFF AWARD

CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY


Useful links