"Until recently, the traditional Bulgarian defence industry was considered obsolete, but not far from the Bulgarian border an intense war is being fought, Defence Minister Todor Tagarev said at the 19th National Innovation Forum "Innovations and Sustainable Growth" in Sofia. It turns out that our industry's ability to produce ammunition, small arms and light weapons, repair equipment and optical instruments is attracting a lot of interest." 

The European Commission has allocated new funds for the Bulgarian defence industry and it remains to be seen how they will be used, Tagarev told the participants in the forum. "Further expansion of the sector will follow, the minister added, and hopefully not just in the construction of an additional production line, but that Bulgarian companies, in cooperation with leading companies, will introduce new technologies, innovations and management to be integrated into the supply chain of major manufacturers."