Balgarianovinite.com BTL Industries Bulgaria has been named Investor of the Year 2025 at the 20th edition of the awards, organized by the InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA).
Bulgarian President Iliana Iotova presented the award and the “Golden Bull” statuette by sculptor Seyfettin Shekerov to the company’s CEO Veselin Karavasilev during an official ceremony held at the Hyatt Regency Sofia hotel on Monday evening.
The company received the top prize for its investment in the southern city of Plovdiv amounting to EUR 51 million in 2025, which led to the creation of over 700 jobs. BTL Industries Bulgaria has been present on the Bulgarian market since 1998 and also operates a research and development center in Sofia. With a team of over 850 employees, the company is among the largest employers in the Plovdiv region. It exports its medical devices to more than 120 countries across six continents.
“This is not just an award for the size of our investment, but recognition of our long-term work in Bulgaria,” said Karavasilev. “We have come a long way to get here. We entered Bulgaria in 1998 with the idea of establishing a sales office. Thanks to the favorable economic environment and the high qualifications of people in Bulgaria, 28 years later we have become BTL’s sole production base worldwide.” According to him, more than 40,000 devices are shipped annually from Bulgaria to global markets.
Karavasilev added that Bulgaria has the potential to become a leading manufacturer of medical devices. He dedicated the Investor of the Year 2025 award to the company’s team.
Other main category winners
Winners in the other four main categories received their awards from representatives of the caretaker government.
The Greenfield Investment award went to Intuitive Surgical Bulgaria for its EUR 42 million investment in the town of Parvomay and over 170 newly created jobs. The award was presented by caretaker Energy Minister Traicho Traikov to Stoyan Stoyanov, Senior Director of Manufacturing Operations and Dimitar Lichev, Senior Manager of Industrial Engineering.
The Human Capital award was presented to Aero Technic BG for its EUR 15.85 million investment in Sofia, specifically at Vasil Levski Airport, creating 125 new jobs. The award was presented by caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski to Rositsa Usheva, Administrative Director.
The Business Expansion Investment award was receive by Nestle Bulgaria for its EUR 44.63 million investment in Sofia and 119 new jobs. CEO Petar Stoilov received the award from Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Maria Nedina.
Festo Bulgaria was the recipient of the Innovative Business award for its EUR 40 million investment across Sofia, Smolyan, and Gabrovo, creating 140 new jobs. The award was presented by caretaker Minister of Innovation and Growth Irena Mladenova to Kalin Dobrev, Managing Director.
Special awards
In addition to the main prizes, the IBA presented honorary plaques in six categories to companies and institutions with outstanding contributions to the economy and investment environment.
Varna Food Factor, Teklas Bulgaria, ZS Europe, and Elatsite-Med were recognized in the High Contribution to Regional Development category.
The Innovative Product category was presented to Optix and received by Vladimir Cholakov.
The Successful Startup category went to Simobotics.
Industrial Park Shumen was the recipient of the Infrastructure Development Excellence category.
Alcomet was recognized in the Social Entrepreneurship category.
The Sustainable Business category award went to Microac, Trakia Glass Bulgaria, and Healthy Bars.
The Low Carbon Footprint category award was presented to Air Liquide.
The Municipality with the Most Investments award was presented to Stara Zagora Municipality and received by its Mayor Zhivko Todorov.
The Investor of the Year initiative recognizes companies and projects that contribute to Bulgaria’s economic development, job creation, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The ceremony brought together representatives of business, government institutions, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and partners of the InvestBulgaria Agency.
During the event, the IBA also marked the 30th anniversary of its establishment. On this occasion, President Iotova presented the Agency with the Honorary Badge of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria. BTL Industries Bulgaria Receives Investor of the Year Award 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-04-27 18:05:46 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