Electrical Engineering and Electronics

Bulgaria provides an overall compelling proposition for electrical engineering, electronics manufacturing and R&D

• Availability of experienced engineers
• Qualified assembly workforce at affordable cost
• Established traditions in the electrical engineering and electronics sector
• Infrastructure well suited for the needs of electronics manufacturing
• Easy access to EU, Russian/CIS and Middle East markets
• Vibrant mix of international and local  companies from the electronics sector with successful  operations in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has particularly strong traditions in the electrical engineering and electronics sector

• In the 1970s and  1980s Bulgaria was among the leaders of electronics manufacturing in Eastern Europe
• In the 1980s Bulgaria supplied more than 40% of the mainframe and personal computers in Eastern Europe
• More than 130 000 people were employed in the sector at its peak during the 1980s
• Electrical Engineering and Electronics Sector comprised more than 25% of total Bulgarian manufacturing at the time
• In the 1980s Bulgarian companies launched a number of joint projects with leading international electronic manufacturing companies like Varta, AEG, Toshiba

The sector has been developed on the basis of an ecosystem of multinational and local firms

• A number of large international companies like Siemens, Schneider Electric, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Liebherr, ABB have discovered Bulgaria as the best destination for their business in Eastern Europe
• Many successful Bulgarian owned companies operate in the sector, offering competitive products worldwide
• The combination of local and multinational companies is creating an unique environment where productivity, ingenuity and  innovation in electronics manufacturing are thriving

The sector benefits from available highly-skilled and affordable HR resources

• Bulgaria offers qualified and experienced workforce for the needs of the electrical engineering and electronics industry – from assembly workers to highly qualified engineers
• Workforce in the industry is available all over the country at the most competitive cost in Europe
• Bulgarian technical high schools and universities are working together with the companies in the sector to create future qualified workforce

Physical infrastructure plays an important role in the access to international markets

• Bulgaria is crossed by five major Trans European corridors, providing easy access to regional and European markets
• Two of the largest ports at the Black Sea, Varna and Burgas are located in Bulgaria, both connected to the trans-European corridor VIII, which links the Adriatic Sea and the Black Sea
• Bulgaria offers well developed electricity and gas infrastructure and at the same time the power and utility prices are among the lowest in Europe
• There are 14 functioning industrial zones and 26 more under development, all of them suitable for manufacturing companies
• Infrastructure development is a priority for the Bulgarian government