The Invest Bulgaria Agency (IBA) awarded the winners of the 19th edition of the “Investor of the Year” competition at a ceremony held on April 2 in the John Atanasoff Hall in Sofia Tech Park.
The Executive Director of IBA, Mrs. Mila Nenova, greeted the guests and announced that in 2024 27 investment class certificates were issued under the Investment Promotion Act, 14 of which are in high-tech activities. The total amount of certified investments amounts to BGN 645 million, with the potential to create 1846 new jobs.
“In 2025, the formation of a regular government brought additional stability, which had a positive impact on the interest and attitudes of investors. In the context of global economic changes, Bulgaria offers macroeconomic stability, clear priorities and talented personnel. As part of the European Union, Schengen and in anticipation of joining the euro area, our country provides security of investment and a favorable business environment,” she said.
The winner of the title “Investor of the Year 2024” was the company “Biovet AD”, a manufacturer of veterinary products for industrial animals in agriculture. The award was presented personally by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Rossen Jeliazkov, to Mr. Angel Jeliazkov, Executive Director of Biovet AD. Presenting the grand prize in the competition, Mr. Jeliazkov thanked all investors who have trusted to operate in Bulgaria.
The award in the category “Investment with a high contribution to development in the region” was presented by Mr. Lyudmil Veselinov, Regional Governor of Pernik. The award was received by Mr. Emil Nikolov, Manager of AK Electric. The company is part of the global Swedish AQ Group AB.
An honorary plaque in the category “Investment with a high contribution to development in the region” was presented by Mr. Atanas Zafirov, Deputy Prime Minister to the company “ZS Europe” EOOD. The Chinese company is part of the holding “Shanghai Unison Aluminum Products” Ltd. and will invest nearly 19 mln. BGN. in the construction of a high-tech plant for the production of aluminum auto parts in the Trakia Economic Zone near Plovdiv. The project is the first Chinese industrial investment in Bulgaria and will create over 100 new jobs. The representatives of “ZS Europe” also announced a new investment in the country for 35 million euros. The implementation of which is to begin in 2025. They expressed hope that more and more Chinese companies will choose Bulgaria as a place to produce in the EU.
In the next category “Low Carbon Footprint Investment” the award was presented by Mr. Victor Atanasov, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment and Water, to Mr. Radoslav Georgiev, Regional Director, IMI Europe. Integrated Micro Electronics is a world leader in electronics manufacturing, committed to sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions. The company has 21 production units all over the world, including in Bulgaria, in the city of Botevgrad, where it provides professional development to over 2000 people.
Several plaques were also awarded in the “Sustainable Business” category. The first one was awarded to Mrs. Denitsa Borisova, Head of Factory Processes of Festo, Festo’s largest R&D center outside Germany and a global center for prototypes and tools. The future of Festo Bulgaria is related to electronics, electric drives and clean production, it became known at the ceremony. The award was presented by Prof. Georgi Angelov, Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth.
The next prize in this category was awarded to Ficosota Food EAD. The company invests 80 mln. Lv. in the new Alto factory, dedicated to Bruschetti Maretti, a snack sold in 80 countries. The facility of 15,000 sq. m will double the production capacity to 414 mln. package per year and will create 150 new jobs. The award was presented by Prof. Todor Chobanov, Deputy Minister of Culture, to Mr. Krasen Kyurkchiev, manager and owner.
The third prize in the category went to Bulpharma, a company with a 28-year history. The award was presented by Mr. Dimitar Nedyalkov, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, to Mr. Nikolay Mitov, Administrative Director.
The winner in the category “Innovative Product” is the company “Siemenso” EOOD. The award was presented by Mr. Silvi Kirilov, Minister of Health, to Mrs. Silvia Kumanova, Manager. This is the first innovative company in Bulgaria specializing in stress management, burnout and mental health, combining 30 years of scientific experience and modern innovative technologies.
The “Successful Startup” award was received by the company “Epic AI” (Epix.Ai) from the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, Mr. Martin Danovski. He congratulated everyone who over the past 10 years have contributed to building an increasingly recognizable startup ecosystem in Bulgaria, so that today in our country there are successful entrepreneurs and companies that have the scale to enter the international stage. Epix AI combines epigenetics and artificial intelligence to measure people’s biological age and risk of age-related diseases.
Mrs. Mila Nenova, Executive Director of IBA, presented an honorary plaque in the category “Industrial Zone Certified as a Priority Investment Project”. The award was received by “Industrial Zone Zagore”.
This year, the winner in the category “Municipality in Bulgaria with the most investments for 2024” received a statuette “Golden Bull” – a symbol of the competition, and not a plaque, as was the practice until last year. The statuette was won by the Municipality of Stara Zagora, and the award was presented by Mrs. Denitsa Sacheva, Chairperson of the Labor and Social Policy Committee. Mayor Zhivko Todorov said that together with the state, the Municipality of Stara Zagora wants to turn the former airport in the city into a large industrial zone.
Mr. Plamen Panchev, founder of Trakia Economic Zone, was also awarded the Golden Bull statuette. It was presented to him by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Dr. Georgi Tahov for personal contribution, recognition of dedication, visionary and significant contribution to economic development.
The award for “Investment in Human Capital” was received by the company “Dormakaba Business Services Bulgaria” by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Mrs. Natalia Efremova. The award was received by Mr. Randy Rossil and Mr. Emil Terezov, managers. The company is a leading international company, with over 160 years in the field of access and security solutions, present in over 130 countries. As part of its strategic development, Dormakaba Business Services Bulgaria has invested in the establishment of a Shared Services Center in Sofia, which provides financial, accounting, IT and HR services. In 2024, the company created over 260 jobs and will continue to invest in job creation in the coming years.
In the category “Investment in business expansion” the winner was “Alcomet” AD for investment in the expansion of the plant in the town of Shumen for aluminum rolling and press products. The award was received by Mr. Fikret Ince, Director, from the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Mr. Ivan Ivanov.
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Mr. Petar Dilov, awarded the “Golden Bull” statuette in the category “Green Investment” to Smart Solar Technologies AD. The company invested 240 mln. Lv. in a plant for the production of solar panels and cells, which will be implemented in the village of Elenino, near Stara Zagora. Предвижда се по проекта да бъдат разкрити 812 работни места. The award was received by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the company, Mr. Halil Demirdak.
Endurosat became the winner in the category “Investment in Innovative Business”. The prize was presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth, Mr. Tomislav Donchev. In his speech, he called on Bulgaria to break the course of “economic nihilism”, which, in his words, consists in the motto that nothing is produced in Bulgaria. This nihilism, the Deputy Prime Minister believes, should be replaced by economic patriotism, in which the central theme in Bulgarian society should be what industries there are in the country and what is their added value.
Mr. Raycho Raychev, founder of Endurosat, announced that the company’s investments in 2025 will be three or four times more than last year’s investments. The development of the company also includes the appointment of 150 new staff – development engineers, who will create products in Bulgaria. In the coming months, the launch of the third generation of satellites is also forthcoming. Mr. Raychev announced that Endurosat has 60 satellites put into orbit.
You can find all the photos from the ceremony at the following link.
https://investbg.government.bg/investor24/?lang=bg
