Bulgarian outsourcing sector claims a 3.6% share of GDP for 2016 and shows a continuous double-digit growth for seven years in a row, shows data from the Bulgarian Outsourcing Association (BOA) annual industry report Bulgarian Outsourcing Industry Report 2017. The sector’s share in GDP in 2015 was 3.4% and 2.8% in 2014.
Bulgaria’s BPO sector remains the leading segment with a share of 53% of the total turnover of the outsourcing industry in 2016. The ITO sector accounts for 47% of the sector turnover but stands out with the higher profitability. The BPO sector share in 2015 stood at 58% versus 42% ITO share. HRO and FAO segments are also growing with great potential for growth in the future, the report showed.
The largest cities in the country – Plovdiv, Burgas and Varna – together with Sofia have developed into leading outsourcing destinations. Main factors influencing the attractiveness of the cities remain the availability of human resources and educational institutions, well-developed infrastructure, high-class office buildings and strategic geographic location. Bulgaria is a leading outsourcing destination in Europe and worldwide. A number of international companies set up offices in Bulgaria and continue their business expansion. New investors are also entering the Bulgarian market. Major foreign investments come from the UK, Netherlands, USA and Germany.
Bulgaria’s main advantages remain its geographical location, the flat tax, which is appreciated by the investors and, last but not least, the well-developed human resources with knowledge in language and IT training, said Svetoslav Ivanov, CEO of BOA in an interview for Bloomberg TV. Watch the full interview for further insights from the report.