Bulgaria
Bulgaria at a glance
Population
As of: 2025
Trade volume
As of: 2025
GDP growth
As of: 2025
Bringing Bulgaria and Bavaria together
Services of our economic representation
Market entry
We support Bavarian companies in entering the market and in developing initial business opportunities, customer relationships and projects in Bulgaria.
Network building
We connect companies with relevant partners in Bulgaria through targeted networking activities and events.
Location information on Bulgaria
We help identify suitable regions, business conditions and relevant contacts in Bulgaria
Support for business establishment projects in Bavaria
We support Bulgarian companies that wish to establish a presence in Bavaria.
Do you have any questions? Do not hesitate to contact us!
Facts and figures about Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and the World Trade Organization and joined the euro area on 1 January 2026.
The country is strategically located at an important crossroads between Europe and Asia, providing access to markets across Southeast Europe as well as to the countries bordering the Black Sea.
Trade relations between Bavaria and Bulgaria
*in millions of euros
This chart shows exports from Bavaria to Bulgaria and imports from Bulgaria to Bavaria. It also illustrates the total trade volume, consisting of both exports and imports.
How is Bulgaria’s economy structured?
The Bulgarian economy is characterized by industry, services and increasing integration into European value chains. The country is among the more industrialized economies in Southeast Europe.
Key industries include electrical and electronics manufacturing, mechanical engineering and the automotive supplier industry. The chemical and pharmaceutical sectors also play a significant role.
In recent years, Bulgaria has additionally developed into an attractive location for information technology and outsourced business services.
What business opportunities does Bulgaria offer?
As a member of the European Union, Bulgaria provides access to the European Single Market.
The business environment is characterized by stable macroeconomic conditions, comparatively low tax and labor costs and strong connectivity to markets across Southeast Europe.
Particularly promising opportunities exist in industrial manufacturing, automotive supply, mechanical engineering, information technology and services.
What are the economic relations with Bavaria and Germany?
Economic relations between Bavaria and Bulgaria have developed dynamically in recent years. Bulgaria is among Bavaria’s important trading partners in Eastern Europe.
Bavarian companies are particularly active in industrial manufacturing, mechanical engineering and services, maintaining numerous business relationships in the country. More than 900 Bavarian companies have business ties with Bulgaria.
Cooperation is supported through various instruments, including business delegations, funding programs and institutional formats such as the Bavaria–Bulgaria Government Commission and initiatives promoting international networking.
„Bulgaria is no longer a low-cost manufacturing location on the periphery of Europe, but a strategic EU business hub for German companies seeking resilience, competitiveness and market access.“
