site.btaInvestments of Modern Trade Companies in Vratsa Region Exceed BGN 240 Mln

Over BGN 240 million have been invested so far in Vratsa Region by the Association for Modern Trade (AMT) since its founding in 2010, said Nikolai Vulkanov, Executive Director of the association, at a press conference at the National Press Club of BTA in Vratsa on Thursday.

AMT unites some of the largest retail chains operating in Bulgaria, with over 750 locations and nearly 24,000 employees across the country, Vulkanov said. A total of 47 stores of SMT members are within the Northwestern Region of the country, 16 of which are in Pleven Region and 12 in Vratsa Region.

Vulkanov presented data according to which modern trade contributes to 8% of the country's GDP. "The aggregate effect, measured through the direct and additional internal demand created in the Bulgarian economy by the activities of modern trade companies in 2022, exceeds BGN 11.8 billion, with the expectations being that for 2023 this total effect will reach BGN 14 billion", he said.

He also noted that the share of people employed in modern trade in relation to all employed in the retail trade increased from 24% in 2020 to 26% percent in 2022, which is tied to investments and the expansion of the coverage of the chains in the country.

The press conference was also attended by Andrey Petrov, Andrey Petrov. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director Expansion and Sales at dm-Bulgaria and Donika Rizova, Director of Communications at AMT.