Bulgaria, Israel Discuss Deepening Economic, Technology Cooperation

Jerusalem, 28 April, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov held a meeting with Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Gila Gamliel during which the possibilities for deepening the economic partnership between the two countries were discussed. This was announced by the government information service.

“Israel is an important economic partner for Bulgaria. However, in recent years, the exchange of goods and investments between us has been developing dynamically. There is a serious untapped potential for expanding trade. Bulgaria is interested in deepening the exchange in the field of high technologies and innovative production, including in the defense sector,” said Zafirov.

The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that Bulgaria and Israel should work to give more substance to the traditional cooperation between the two countries. He pointed out that an important step in this direction would be the holding of the First Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation with Israel, accompanied by a bilateral business forum.

Gamliel stressed opportunities for student exchange, support in the areas of cybersecurity, research, and space technology.

Zafirov noted that one of the six new artificial intelligence factories of the European Union (EU) will be established in Bulgaria thanks to the joint work between Sofia Tech Park and the Institute for Computer Technologies and Artificial Intelligence.

Zafirov introduced the Minister to the concept for the development of the Defense Innovation Center, which will be constructed as soon as possible. He emphasized that the center’s main goal is to conduct research and development activities, as well as testing and certification of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The creation of a center for defense innovation was announced by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov at the government meeting on March 5. The Bulgarian defense industry needs modernization in order to be able to meet all the expectations that Europe’s defense capabilities and capabilities oblige us to be at the height of today’s international and geopolitical situation, the Prime Minister said. This means upgrading our capabilities with production with a much higher added value than what we currently have, using the capacities, Zhelyazkov pointed out.