site.btaSofia Hosts Forum on Artificial Intelligence and Future of Business

A conference dedicated to the growing role of artificial intelligence in business, public administration and economic development was held in Sofia on Thursday under the title “Together in the New Business Reality: Challenge the AI Expert.”

The forum, hosted by Inter Expo Center and organised by Enterprise Europe Network Bulgaria, brought together government representatives and business leaders to discuss the impact of AI, cybersecurity and digital transformation on the economy.

Among the participants was Ivan Vassilev, the Minister of Innovation and Digital Transformation, who said technology and artificial intelligence should become “a driver of accelerated economic growth and the modernization of public administration.”

Vassilev said Bulgaria should focus on building an economy based on innovation, robotics, drones and AI, with the state playing an active role in supporting the process. According to him, the newly established Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation has two key priorities: accelerating economic growth through high value-added products and services, and modernising the state through technology and artificial intelligence.

He added that the government aims to support high-tech businesses, attract investment and talent, and create better-paid jobs in the country. “Technology is a means to achieve more with less,” Vassilev said, noting that AI should also be used to make administrative services faster, more accessible and more convenient for citizens and businesses.

At the conference, Dobri Mitrev, chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association, said artificial intelligence is no longer simply a technology, but “a new business environment in which everyone is already living.”

Mitrev stressed that cybersecurity is now a core part of company resilience and management rather than only an IT issue, warning that cyberattacks can lead to production disruptions, financial losses and declining public trust. He also said sustainable business development depends on companies’ ability to adapt and create value in a changing environment, while cooperation between generations is essential for combining experience with the digital skills of younger professionals.

“Artificial intelligence can be a strong ally, but its direction must ultimately be set by people,” Mitrev added.