site.btaRheinmetall Approached with Investment Proposal for Gunpowder Plant in Bulgaria - GERB Leader Borissov

Boyko Borissov has sent a detailed investment proposal to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov regarding the construction of a gunpowder production plant in partnership with Rheinmetall, the GERB leader told the media in Parliament on Wednesday.

On Tuesday in Germany, Borissov had a meeting with Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger, also attended by Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and the Media and Head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The factory would be a 49-51 joint project between the Bulgarian State and Rheinmetall. The total investment is estimated at EUR 420 million. The plant could be operational within two years, with a parallel investment in new munition and technological production lines.

"This factory could attract additional foreign investments to Bulgaria. Europe's largest defence company wants to start investing in Bulgaria as early as next week," said Borissov.

A Rheinmetall delegation visited Bulgaria at the end of March 2025, holding meetings with President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.

Rheinmetall AG, headquartered in Düsseldorf, is one of Europe's largest defence contractors and a key player in the global defence industry, supplying weapons, ammunition, military vehicles, and advanced systems for armed forces. With operations in over 30 countries, Rheinmetall has strategic partnerships with NATO and EU member states.