site.btaEconomy and Industry Minister Dilov Meets with European Investment Bank Vice President de Groot

Economy and Industry Minister Peter Dilov held a meeting with European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Robert de Groot, Dilov’s Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday. The two discussed opportunities for financing projects and initiatives of Bulgarian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Deputy Economy Minister Doncho Barbalov also took part in the meeting. 

Current trends and priorities in EIB policy were presented during the discussion, focusing on supporting investments aligned with key European Union objectives — infrastructure, innovation, the green transition, projects in the fields of security and defence, cybersecurity, drones, dual-use technologies, among others.

Peter Dilov emphasized that the Ministry of Economy and Industry is working actively to increase the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy. He highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to promote exports, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and create favorable conditions for attracting foreign investment by ensuring a transparent and stable business environment.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the Bulgarian economy,” Dilov noted. The Minister of Economy stated that active work is being done to enhance the digitalization and energy efficiency of SMEs, as well as to expand their access to European and national financial instruments that support technology transfer, innovation, and the growth of their production capacity.

“One of our priority economic sectors is the defence industry, which also includes many small and medium-sized companies,” he said. According to Dilov, the sector generates over 4% of Bulgaria’s GDP and is a key source of employment, innovation, and investment.

For his part, EIB Vice President Robert de Groot presented the bank’s strategic priorities aimed at supporting high value-added projects that contribute to sustainable growth and to achieving the EU’s climate goals.

The European Investment Bank is an international financial institution owned by the EU member states. Its Board of Governors consists of ministers — primarily finance ministers — from all EU countries, and it sets the bank’s overall lending policy. The EIB’s main role is to support investments that serve EU policies: infrastructure, innovation, the green transition, support for the defense industry, and more.