Hristo Etropolsky – Acting Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency (BIA) was a guest in a discussion forum on the development of technologies defining the future of digital transformation. The forum was held on 31.08.2023 in the city of Varna with organizer DXC Technology.

The round table was attended by Milena Stoicheva – Minister of Innovation and Growth, Ivan Portnih – Mayor of the city of Sofia. Varna, experts from the IT sector, representatives from academia and business.

The focus of the discussion was on unlocking the potential of Big Data analytics and the development of artificial intelligence, as well as on the secure use of new technologies in a secure cyber environment.

„IBA promotes Bulgaria on the global stage, trying to brand it as a good place for investment,” Mr. Etropolsky said. He recalled that the surge in foreign direct investment for the first half of this year compared to the same period last year was 96 percent. He said it is almost certain that 2023 will be a record year in this respect in the last 12 years.  Mr. Etropolsky added that the automotive sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country, and that in 15 years the sector’s annual turnover has exceeded €8 billion, which is 11 per cent of the country’s GDP. He said that in order to maintain this development trend, it would be good to ease the procedures and opportunities for recruiting workers from third countries in the short term, and in the long term to draw up a clear plan for training and realizing Bulgaria’s human potential.

DXC Technology has been developing a global service delivery center in Bulgaria since 2006 and today employs over 5,000 people in the country.  In the city of. The company now employs up to 400 people. The company has a presence in more than 70 countries and actively partners with universities in the city Varna and the country.