site.btaEconomy Minister Dilov: Defence Industry Vital for Bulgarian Business Competitiveness and Growth

Supporting and improving Bulgaria’s economic competitiveness remains a key priority, with the defence sector playing a crucial role in national GDP, Economy and Industry Minister Petar Dilov said on Monday. He spoke during a discussion on The National Dimension of the European Defence Industry Programme: An Integrated Approach Between Institutions, Industry, and Science, held at the Defence Committee in the National Assembly, the ministry’s press service reported.

The event, organized by Defence Committee Chair Hristo Gadjev, also featured Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev, Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, MPs, Bulgarian MEPs, and representatives from the Bulgarian defence industry.

"We recognize our responsibility to this vital sector for both the state and economy and are actively working to strengthen its position in the Euro-Atlantic space," Dilov said. He emphasized that securing EU funding for optimizing, expanding, and modernizing production capacities is a top priority, particularly for SMEs and MidCap companies, which form the backbone of the Bulgarian economy.

Bulgaria has a strong tradition in manufacturing small arms, ammunition, missile systems, optical products, communication systems, and protective equipment, he noted.

"European defence industry programmes are key to the technological renewal and expansion of our enterprises' production capacity," Dilov said, adding that these initiatives will help reorient Bulgaria’s defence sector towards the high-tech European market.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry is actively engaged in shaping the new European Defence Industry Programme, aimed at boosting production capacity and fostering cooperation among EU member states.

"Bulgarian enterprises and organizations must take an active role in shaping and implementing EU policies in the defence sector," Dilov concluded.