BULGARIA
COUNTRY FACTS
Capital: Sofia
Official Language: Bulgarian
Accession to the EU: January 1, 2007
Area: 110,910 km2
Population: 7.7 million
GDP: $ 27 billion; per capita $ 4,800
Currency: Lev
Domain names: ending with .bg
Calling Code: +359
Most important trading partners: Russia, Macadonia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Turkey, The Netherlands
Important Export Articles: articles of food, rose oil, dairy products, wine and liquor, tabac, machinery and equipment, chemicals, raw materials, minerals, metals
Important Import Articles: farm machinery and equipment, fuel, living cattle, metals, minerals, raw materials, vegetable foods
WHY INVESTING IN BULGARIA?
- Strategic location in Europe - Bulgaria provides a strategic location to serve and service markets within the European Union as well as central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The key geographical position of Bulgaria combined with a good accessibility and excellent infrastructure are only some of the reasons why numerous European, American and Asian companies are willing to establish their facilities in the Bulgaria.
- International business environment - Bulgaria, long Europe's trading crossroads, is an obvious choice to locate a pan-European operation, whether it is a European headquarters, a Shared Services Center, a Customer Care Center, a distribution and logistics operation, or a R&D facility. The country's pro-business environment creates a gateway to Europe that helps international companies succeed throughout the continent. An international outlook and openness to foreign investment is firmly engrained in the Bulgarian culture, and this has yielded a wealth of world-class business partners who know how to deal with global business challenges in today's economy.
- Superior logistics and technology infrastructure - Bulgaria is also classified as one of the most 'wired' countries in Eastern Europe, a dynamic force in electronic commerce, communications and outsourcing.
- Highly educated, multilingual & flexible workforce - Bulgaria features one of the most highly educated, flexible and motivated workforces in Europe. Bulgarian professionals are also among the most multilingual in the world, enabling them to successfully operate in companies across any industry serving customers throughout the continent.
- Quality of life - Bulgaria is proud to have a constantly improving standard of living, while maintaining an affordable life for its residents. The costs of living, housing, education and cultural activities are lower than in most Western-European countries.
*Bulgaria
Lideka
International
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN BULGARIA
Lideka International offers professional consultancy services to Chinese and other foreign investors planning to establish or expand their business in Bulgaria.
- Company Registration Service
- Bulgaria business consulting, market research
- Translation and paperwork
- Logistics, trade shows
MARKET SECTORS
MEDICAL & PHARMA
- Opportunities for production of low-priced generics in the country due to low manufacturing costs
- Expensive surgical operations can be successfully and costly carried out in Bulgaria
- High growth potential of the pharmaceutical and medical equipment markets (15-20% per year)
- Opportunities for carrying out dental tourism, already successfully explored in Central Europe, due to existing high quality and price competitiveness of dental services in the country
- Though the major local pharma companies have already been acquired by foreign players, there are consolidation opportunities for investors to step or bolster existing presence in the region
- Opportunities for carrying out repackaging and re-labeling of pharmaceuticals/medical devices
ENERGY
- Bulgaria is the main exporter of electricity in Southeast Europe
- Bulgaria has a number of potential renewable energy sources 每 hydro, solar and biomass; geothermal and wind energy potential is considered the highest
- Electricity consumption in Bulgaria is expected to grow with 2.3% on an annual basis until 2020
- 2001-2005 每 Government policy towards liberalization of the energy market through providing free access to the energy transmission network and direct contracting between
- generators, traders and eligible customers under bilateral contracts at freely negotiated prices
- Bulgaria will create a regional energy center in a further step to deregulate its power market
- 2007 每 The monopoly of National Electricity Company (NEC) over transmission, including export of power will expire upon Bulgaria＊s EU accession
INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOGOSTICS
- Strategic geographic location of the country
- Bulgaria＊s infrastructure needs significant investment in order to meet EU standards
- Opportunities to acquire concessions on key infrastructure segments
- Opportunities to participate in infrastructure reconstruction and modernization through tenders
- Forthcoming modernization of the entire railway infrastructure
- Potential in the development of logistics centers throughout the country
- Forthcoming privatization of the state companies in river and sea transportation
- Need for modernization of large percentage of the transport equipment in the country
- Opportunities for acquisition of private transport companies
FOOD INDUSTRY
- Bulgaria has the largest number of mineral water deposits in Europe - more than 250 mineral water deposits and over 500 sources and boreholes in the country (France 每 64; Spain - 89)
- Strong traditions in wine making 每 2% of the world market share
- Very high quality organic products (ban on GM products)
- EU food legislation integrated in the Bulgarian legislation
- Unique climate conditions support wide variety of crops, fruit and vegetables
- Environmentally clean and fertile soil
LINKS:
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