site.btaGERB Leader Borissov: We Will Build Another Plant for Medium Calibre Ammunition

GERB leader Boyko Borissov and Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger joined the Capital forum Regional Defence Summit 2025 discussion on Tuesday, shortly after the signing of a EUR 1 billion contract for a gunpowder plant to be built in Bulgaria. “We will build another factory for medium calibre ammunition,” Borissov said, speaking at the forum.

“If there hadn’t been a regular government, we wouldn’t have been able to sign this contract today. Nor a contract for the next one. And believe me, in mechanical engineering and industry, his partners are waiting; this is a family business. When one of them comes, when a centre-forward like Papperger enters Bulgarian football, a left-back and a right-back will follow,” Borissov explained metaphorically.

Borissov added that President Rumen Radev had spoken positively about the deal.

“The world is divided at the moment. I have made my choice, GERB stands firmly with our colleagues from Western Europe and the United States, to support Ukraine,” Borissov added.

He stressed the importance of localising production and logistics. “We all want peace, but in a conflict, waiting for someone to deliver cannons, shells, or gunpowder could be fatal,” he said.

Papperger’s teams have already visited several private arms factories in Bulgaria, Borissov said. “We have excellent facilities in Panagyurishte, Samokov, and Stara Zagora and they are already familiar with the full range of Rheinmetall and its subsidiaries,” he added.

According to Borissov, the new projects will stimulate heavy industry in the entire region, particularly in Bulgaria. “We have an exceptionally skilled workforce, very good engineers, specialists, and innovative scientists. With the help of the government, we’re doing everything possible to ensure they meet people sitting in the front row here, including Papperger,” he said.

“We want to have a defence industry and armed forces strong enough that no other country would even think of attacking us,” Borissov stated. “The situation will get worse, and Europe must find a way to pull itself out,” Borissov added.

“Our next moves are in the steel and mining sectors, we have valuable metals, but we’ve closed the mines. There’s a lot to discuss and build on together, and to talk about Peevski, of course,” Borissov added.