Balgarianovinite.com An Industrial Forum was held in Plovdiv on Thursday as part of the Hemus 2026 International Defence Equipment and Services Exhibition, which opened on Wednesday. The event brought together institutional representatives, members of academia, defence industry officials, high-tech companies, startups, and NATO representatives. The forum, themed “Defence Capabilities, Industrial Capacity, and the Role of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Industry within the European and Allied Defence Ecosystem,” was organized by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry. It was opened by Deputy Defence Minister Katerina Gramatikova, Deputy Economy, Investments and Industry Minister Mihaela Karadimova, and Deputy Innovation and Growth Minister Mira Yosifova.
Deputy Minister Gramatikova said Bulgaria has traditions, expertise, and proven potential in the defence sector, which she described as a strategic asset for the country. She noted that the current moment presents an opportunity not only to preserve those positions but also to expand them through joint projects, technology transfer, investment in production capacity, and stronger cooperation between industry, academia, and education institutions. In implementing projects under the SAFE instrument, the focus would be placed on genuine industrial cooperation and on building more partnerships between Bulgarian companies and European partners, with the aim of improving security of supply, production, and maintenance of newly acquired platforms, she added.
Deputy Minister Karadimova said that “Bulgaria should be a recognizable partner within the European defence industry,” pointing to the country’s industrial base and significant scientific potential. She noted that the Bulgarian companies in the sector have been adapting successfully to new technological and market realities and participating in major international supply chains. Exports and transfers of defence-related products reached nearly EUR 2.5 billion in 2025, while the level of trade with foreign partners remained stable compared with the previous year, she said. The sector employs more than 70,000 people, with some enterprises playing a crucial role in the development of entire regions across the country. Cooperation within NATO remains essential for the development of defence capabilities and industrial cooperation, particularly as interoperability and technological integration become increasingly important, she noted. In her view, Bulgaria has the potential to become a more active and better-integrated participant in the European and allied defence ecosystem.
Deputy Minister Yosifova highlighted innovations in technology as the future of Bulgaria’s economy as well as a crucial factor for achieving the State’s strategic priorities in defence and security. Yosifova said that Bulgaria has the potential and the necessary capacity to establish itself as a leader in innovation. She underlined the need to increase public-sector funding for innovation and pointed to ongoing efforts to attract private investment initiatives. Yosifova identified the creation of an adaptable ecosystem capable of responding to the evolving business environment as an institutional priority.
On the sidelines of the exhibition on Thursday, Defence Minister Dimitar Stoyanov met with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Menassa. The two discussed opportunities to deepen bilateral cooperation in security and defence and agreed to accelerate work on a bilateral defence cooperation agreement. Their talks covered opportunities for training Lebanese military personnel at Bulgarian military academies and through Bulgaria’s military education system. Stoyanov said Menassa’s visit reflects the strong ties between Bulgaria and Lebanon. Industrial Forum Held on Day 2 of Hemus 2026 International Defence Exhibition 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-06-04 18:26:12 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law