Minister of Innovation: International investors have serious interest in the new industrial zone for the automotive sector

There is a serious international investor interest in the new industrial zone "Dobroslavtsi", which is will be built near Sofia, Alexander Pulev, the caretaker minister of innovation, told BNT morning show "The Day Begins" on April.

The new zone will have an area as large as 200 football fields and will be specialized in the automotive segment.

"Under the Bulgarian Investment Agency, we literally meet with priority investors every week. At the moment there is a very advanced dialogue with three priority investors. It is not a coincidence that all three have targeted the automotive segment and it is not a coincidence that this zone is so targeted because we see a very strong focus of international investors in this segment.

We are talking about investors from Western Europe, the Middle East, Asia, a mix of investments that are targeting Bulgaria, despite the political risk, despite the reputational risk. These investors have appreciated our strategic positioning and this know-how and expertise that we are accumulating in the segment.

The Bulgarian government has taken a decisive and breakthrough step towards creating the prerequisites for attracting a major strategic investor. Yesterday, with a decision of the Council of Ministers, we have established the first ever state-owned economic zone "Dobroslavtsi".

"We are talking about an area of 290 hectares, the size of 200 football pitches. The new zone is located 15 km from Sofia, close to the workforce. As to the type of production, we have designated this zone for cleaner production which meets the needs of people in the region," Pulev said. We will invest on the basis of best practice and for infrastructure. There will be sizable investments in social infrastructure - green areas, cycle lanes," said Alexander Pulev.

He reminded that the automotive industry is one of the fastest growing segments in the Bulgarian economy and already contributes about 11% of the country's GDP.

The new industrial zone will be built in 12 to 24 months with an initial investment of around BGN 8 million.

Alexander Pulev added that sites are being considered for the construction of more such economic zones in key regions of Bulgaria with the idea of having at least three more such zones.

Work is underway to start such a procedure, funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with preference in scoring going to municipalities in Northern Bulgaria.

Regarding the funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, Pulev assured that all those who have been approved will receive their funds under the first tranche. For the next tranches, matters should be directed to the new Parliament which will hold its first sitting tomorrow, he clarified.