Liebherr’s investment will initially create around 200 new jobs in the production of high-tech components for global aviation leaders.

The Minister of Innovation and Growth, Irena Mladenova, awarded a Priority Investment Project Certificate to “Liebherr – Transportation Systems Maritsa” EOOD. The certificate is issued under the Investment Promotion Act (IPA) for the project “Establishment of a New Liebherr Production Facility in Bulgaria.” The total investment is expected to reach nearly €90 million. Initially, around 200 new jobs will be created, with the potential to grow to 600.

The new plant will be located in the village of Benkovski, near Plovdiv, within the Trakia Economic Zone. It will manufacture, test, and develop products for the aviation industry. The project includes the launch of production activities not previously carried out by the company in Bulgaria. This new line of operations will cover the manufacturing and testing of high-tech components for the aerospace industry, including primary flight control actuators, transmission shafts for wing mechanisms, landing gear control actuators, as well as aircraft air conditioning systems.

The need for the project is driven by increasing orders from clients such as Airbus (EU) and Embraer (Brazil).

“Priority is given to investments in high-tech sectors,” Minister Mladenova stated, emphasizing that the goal is to stimulate economic growth through innovative, high value-added production.

At the ceremony held at the Ministry, the certificate was received by Dieter Pflanzer, Managing Director of “Liebherr – Transportation Systems,” and Hristo Georgiev, Managing Director of the Bulgarian entity. They highlighted that the new investment further strengthens Bulgaria’s position as a strategic partner for the company. “With this investment, Bulgaria will become part of Liebherr’s aerospace industry for the first time,” Pflanzer noted. He added that the company also plans to establish a research and development center to attract engineers.

Minister Mladenova also stated that Bulgaria has a well-developed ecosystem in the aerospace industry, pointing to several successful Bulgarian startups. She added that the new investment will further stimulate the sector’s development and expansion in the country.

The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth Mira Yosifova, Chief Executive of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Sonja Miklaj, Head of the Economic Department at the German Embassy Sonja Riemer, Asya Raycheva from the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy, as well as representatives of Invest Bulgaria Agency under the Ministry—Angel Ivanov, Acting Executive Director, Julian Balchev, Chief Secretary, and experts involved in the certification of the project.