Bulgaria's industrial strategy will be ready by the end of 2026

Bulgaria's national industrial strategy will be finalized in the second half of 2026. This became clear during a meeting between representatives of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AICB) and the Ministry of Economy and Industry (MEI), led by Deputy Minister Doncho Barbalov.

The strategy, which was developed in partnership with the European Commission and international consultants, will outline the country's priorities in the field of industrial development until 2030. It will cover key areas such as mining and manufacturing, industrial infrastructure, the creation of an investment portal, and zero-emission technologies.

According to information from the Ministry of Industry and Energy, an important part of the strategy will be the integration of European regulations on critical raw materials and low-carbon technologies to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of Bulgarian industry in the context of the EU's climate goals.

The meeting also discussed the new foreign trade agreements that the EU is negotiating with a number of countries and regions, including MERCOSUR, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf countries.

Deputy Minister Barbalov pointed out that these agreements will create new market opportunities for Bulgarian businesses, especially if they are supported by a well-coordinated industrial policy.

The next important step is our membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)," Barbalov said.

During the meeting, the members of the National Council also discussed the progress of negotiations between social partners on the mechanism for determining the minimum wage.

Translated with DeepL.