site.btaPublic-Private Partnerships Succeed when Government and Private Sector Complement Each Other, IFC's Saporiti

Public-private partnerships can be successful when the government and private operators bring complementary strengths, International Finance Corporation Senior Investment Officer Nicola Saporiti said at Plenary 6 of the 3rd AmChams Regional Economic Summit (ARES 2026), held in Sofia on Thursday.  

Saporiti described public-private partnerships as a “marriage” between the state and specialized private operators in sectors such as water supply, transport, telecommunications, and other infrastructure. He said this model involves the contractual transfer of part of the risks traditionally borne by the public sector to a private investor.

He added that in complex projects involving nuclear power plants, wastewater treatment facilities, airports, and other strategic infrastructure, public-private partnerships not only enable the mobilization of private capital but also transfer a significant portion of project risk to an operator with the necessary expertise.

Saporiti stressed that successful public-private partnerships depend on thorough project preparation and early identification of all risks before contracts are signed.

He said that a clear and streamlined legal framework is among the most important preconditions for attracting foreign investment.

He further pointed to macroeconomic stability and investment in public administration human capital as key factors for an attractive investment climate.

BTA is a media partner of the event.