site.btaBulgaria's Defence Industry Contributes Over 4% to Country's GDP, Economy and Industry Minister Says

Bulgaria’s defence industry contributed more than 4% to this country’s gross domestic product in 2024, Economy and Industry Minister Peter Dilov said in an interview with bTV on Sunday.

Dilov noted that exports of military products increased from EUR 650 million in 2021 to EUR 2.8 billion in 2024. Over the 2022–2024 period, revenues from defence-related exports totalled BGN 13 billion. The sector now employs more than 70,000 people, with employment expected to continue rising, he added.

The primary driver behind this growth has been the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has led to increased demand for Soviet-era ammunition, making Bulgaria a major supplier, Dilov said. As a result, state-owned defence factory VMZ-Sopot is projected to surpass BGN 1 billion in revenue in 2025. By comparison, before the war began, its revenues amounted to BGN 191 million in 2021.

VMZ-Sopot currently employs over 5,000 people, with 350 new workers hired in the past year alone.

According to data from the Economy and Industry Ministry, the average gross salary at VMZ-Sopot is BGN 2,500.

Dilov spoke of a planned joint venture between Bulgaria and Germany's Rheinmetall, which includes the construction of two new production facilities in this country. It will enable Bulgaria to integrate into the supply chains of NATO member states, Dilov said.

"Dual training agreements have been signed with both the Technical University in Sofia and its branch in Plovdiv. It is important to secure livelihoods in the region," Dilov said, adding that the investment is expected to attract talent from across the country.