Alain Pilloux, EBRD Vice President, is starting an official visit to Bulgaria today. He will meet the business community and local authorities in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Burgas. His discussions will focus on the financing needs of Bulgarian companies, ways to increase the flow of foreign investment to the country and on the support for infrastructure development in key municipalities.
The visit will provide an opportunity to introduce the EBRD’s recently adopted strategy for Bulgaria that will guide the Bank’s investment and policy engagement in the country during the next five years.
In line with the new strategy, the EBRD’s activities will focus on boosting the competitiveness of Bulgarian companies; financing infrastructure projects that enhance regional connectivity and provide green solutions to urban challenges; and strengthening the resilience of financial sector.
Vice President Pilloux said: “The EBRD is pleased to see Bulgaria’s robust growth and continued commitment to structural reforms. We are encouraged by the country’s aim to eventually join the eurozone. We stand ready to scale up EBRD support for competitiveness, in particular of small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainable infrastructure development, and for the resilience of financial intermediation.”
The Bank is a major investor in Bulgaria and combines this with support for reforms that help improve the business environment in the country and mobilise investment from other sources. To date, the EBRD has invested almost €4 billion in the Bulgarian economy and remains committed to the country.
