“The Ministry of Defense attaches great importance to the partnership with the enterprises from the Bulgarian Defense Technological Industrial Base (BOTIB). We share the opinion that it is essential to look for a connection between the needs of the Bulgarian army and the opportunities of the Bulgarian industry to participate in the implementation of the main investment projects”. This was said by the Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov today, October 15, at a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian defense industry, the press center of the Ministry of Defense announced.
“We are looking at the Defense Investment Program until 2032 adopted by the National Assembly as a ‘guide’ for representatives of the defense industry regarding the long-term investment intentions of the Ministry of Defence. This enables predictability and transparency and is a guide for the future demand for defense equipment and products,” Minister Zapryanov pointed out. He noted that the Ministry of Defense supports the participation of Bulgarian industry and military and scientific organizations in innovation projects under the European Fund for defence, the NATO Defense Innovation Fund and the Defense Innovation Accelerator in the North Atlantic Region (DIANA), as well as the new joint procurement cooperation initiatives.
In addition to experts from the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Staff, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense, the President’s Administration, the Ministries of Economy and Industry, Innovation and Growth, and Education and Science, as well as the Interdepartmental Council for Defense Industry and security of supplies to the Council of Ministers, State Agency “National Security” and scientific organizations. The meeting was dedicated to the cooperation and interaction between the Bulgarian defense industry and the executive power.
The participants expressed a common position that for the interaction between the executive branch and the defense industry to be efficient and effective, it must be based on an ongoing dialogue. A new memorandum of cooperation between the participants of the Industrial Forum is to be developed in November.