Deputy Minister Irina Shtonova: French Companies Invest BGN 1 billion per year on Average in Bulgaria

Trends over the last decade show that French companies invest an average of BGN 1 billion a year in our country. This was said by Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Irina Shtonova during an event of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She pointed out that the French investors bring serious added value to the Bulgarian economy and are the driving force behind the sustained growth of the trade between the two countries. France ranks sixth in terms of exports of Bulgarian goods. Exports from our country to the French Republic increased by over 16% last year and reached EUR 1.5 billion. 'I am sure that the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is one of the most active chambers in our country, has a serious contribution to these good results,' Irina Shtonova added.

'Many of the French companies in our country are developing their own programmes for dual training and for attracting young people into their production activities. This shows that they want to build a lasting relationship with Bulgaria and their plans related to our country are long-term,' the Deputy Minster of Economy said.

The President of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Stéphane Delahaye, said that the chamber's membership is expected to increase to 300 soon. He congratulated the team of the Ministry of Economy and Industry for working to make our country an increasingly attractive destination for foreign investment. 'In October we expect a business delegation of 130 French companies to visit Bulgaria to explore the potential and opportunities for the development of their projects here,' he said.

During the event, the Yearbook for 2023/2024 of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was presented. The initiative for its publication started more than 15 years ago. So far, more than 270 companies are members of the Chamber and their number is constantly growing. The Ambassador of France H.E. Joel Meier, the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency Bogdan Bogdanov, the Director of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vesela Todorova-Mozettig, representatives of the French business and others.