FDI Reached EUR 653.2 million in January – April 2022, Growing by 232% Over the Same Period Last Year
According to BNB preliminary data, the foreign direct investment net flows in Bulgaria recorded a positive value of EUR 653.2 million in January – April 2022, growing by EUR 456.5 million or 232% compared to the same period in 2021, when they amounted to 196.8 million euros.
The most significant net direct investment inflows in Bulgaria were from the Netherlands (EUR 485.8 million), Belgium (EUR 163.1 million), and Austria (EUR 120.9 million), whereas the largest net outflows were to Luxembourg (EUR 58.6 million) and Germany (EUR 56.2 million).
Values include Debt instruments as well as Equity and reinvestment of earnings. The net inflow of foreign investments in real estate decreased by EUR 5.3 million, as the inflow was negative by EUR 0.3 million in January-April 2021.
Detailed data from BNB is available here.
In Sofia, several large investment projects have been implemented since the beginning of the year. The leading manufacturer in the field of aluminum extrusion Etem Gestamp Aluminum Extrusions AD has announced a new investment of 60 million euros in cutting-edge technology and a fully automated internal logistic solution for its production unit in Sofia. The expansion of the company’s capacity in Sofia will create 130 new jobs. The French cybersecurity company Athos IT Solutions and Services EOOD has opened a new global operational security center for over 300 new employees.
Both companies have been provided a green card for administrative services from Invest Sofia. Since the beginning of the year, Invest Sofia has presented seven Green cards to investors currently implementing new projects on the territory of Sofia Municipality. The total amount of planned investments is 125 million euros, which will bring the city about 500 new jobs.
The green card gives companies a fast track for administrative services and the right to receive upon request assistance for administrative services, mediation in case of legal or regulatory issues, networking with partners, provision of specific sector data and/or analysis, and more.
Apart from Etem Gestamp Aluminum Extrusions AD and Athos IT Solutions and Services EOOD, green cards were also provided to the metallurgical company Sofia Med AD, the pharmaceutical company Teva Pharma EAD, the startup company Elka.bg, the engineering company Key Bio Industry Bulgaria Ltd, which will build the high-tech industrial park “Hemus” in “Kremikovtzi”, and the startup company Dexicon Ltd., which offer fully integrated digitalization solutions to help small and medium-sized businesses.
