site.btaGerman Investments in Bulgaria Total EUR 130 Million in 2017

Sofia, April 23 (BTA) - In 2017 the German investments in Bulgaria totalled 130 million euro, it emerged at a meeting between Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov and representatives of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karanikolov's Ministry said in a press release Monday.

2017 saw a record-high commercial exchange between the two countries which totalled 7.295 billion euro, or 10 per cent higher than the preceding year.

The participants in the meeting discussed topics about the administrative burden on business, the shortage of staff, and the challenges by the digital transformation. Karanikolov said that the government is focused on reducing the regulatory regimes to the minimum required by the European law.

The German business representatives said that for the first time in their annual poll about the business climate in Bulgaria the problem with staff came first. Karanikolov said that active work is underway to address the problem, both long- and short-term, and explained some of the proposed measures.

The German business representatives noted the good dialogue with the government and the prompt solutions to the problems encountered by investors.