Balgarianovinite.com On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Bulgaria’s outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov met with Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger on Friday, the Government Information Service reported. The sides reviewed the progress achieved under the strategic agreement to build a gunpowder and ammunition factory in Bulgaria, signed in October 2025.
Zhelyazkov said that his government views the joint venture between Bulgaria’s VMZ and the German automotive and arms manufacturer as a strategic European project and a guarantee of the long-term competitiveness of the Bulgarian defence industry.
The strategic partnership between the Bulgarian State and Rheinmetall changes the future of Bulgaria’s defence industry by broadening the portfolio, modernization of the production, and creation of jobs. The plant is a strategic investment with lasting positive effects on security and economic stability in Bulgaria, in the Balkans, and Europe. By broadening the EU’s capacity in the field of explosives and ammunition, the project will improve Bulgaria’s capability to support the EU’s and NATO’s forces on Bulgarian territory and along the Alliance’s eastern flank. The plant will also allow a sustainable and predictable contribution to security in Ukraine, in correspondence with EU and Alliance commitments.
Papperger expressed satisfaction with the fast progress and high level of cooperation with the Bulgarian side.
Bulgaria’s outgoing Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, outgoing Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov, and Chief of Defence Emil Eftimov also attended the meeting.
Speaking to journalists in Munich, Zhelyazkov explained that the partnership with Rheinmetall for establishing a joint enterprise in Bulgaria has been confirmed. The Bulgarian plant will manufacture products that will be purchased by the joint venture, and the project also includes cooperation with other leading Bulgarian manufacturers. Zhelyazkov stressed that the goal is not only a public-private partnership, but business-to-business cooperation, with the State creating the conditions for the successful implementation of the investment and the development of industrial and defense capacities. Bulgarian PM, Rheinmetall CEO Papperger Discuss Progress in Joint Gunpowder Plant Project 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-02-13 19:35:00 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