Business ·
Dormakaba opens plant near Sofia for 200+ staff – Poulev's US mission still without deals
One new project since Tuesday morning: an automatic door plant near Sofia with over 200 jobs. Poulev's US mission has produced no contracts so far. The NSI publishes final inflation today.
Total of projects with stated value167.7EUR m
New entries since 13 Oct morning1
Industrial output Aug 2026, year on year−5.4% −5.40 %
New jobs (stated)730
There is one new entry in the table since Tuesday morning. Swiss company dormakaba opened a new plant in Novi Han (Elin Pelin municipality, Sofia province) on 8 October. It became known on Tuesday (13 October) through the daily Standart and the portal DBR. The plant covers over 22,000 square metres and makes automatic entrance systems – revolving and sliding doors – for European markets. The team there is to exceed 200 people. The investment amount was not disclosed, so it is not counted in the total.
The total of projects with a stated value stays at EUR 167.7m. Stated new jobs rise from 530 to 730 thanks to dormakaba. No plant closures or layoffs in Bulgaria were reported since Tuesday morning.
US mission: on Tuesday in Washington, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Poulev opened a forum on Black Sea defence and security during the annual exhibition of the Association of the US Army (AUSA). He proposed joint ventures with the Bulgarian state and local production of drones, counter-drone systems, surveillance and cybersecurity. Poulev met Boeing Defense and L3Harris and visited Lockheed Martin's headquarters. No contracts, memoranda or amounts were announced. The mission runs until 16 October.
Today, 14 October, the statistics office NSI publishes final September inflation. At 07:25 Berlin time the data were not yet out. The flash estimate was 5.6% year on year and −0.3% versus August. Industrial output in August was 5.4% below a year earlier (NSI, 9 October).
| Region | Company / project | Sector | Amount (EUR m) | Jobs (− = cuts) | Status / date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia province (Novi Han, Elin Pelin municipality) | dormakaba (Switzerland) – new plant for automatic entrance systems (revolving and sliding doors), over 22,000 m² | Engineering / building technology | – | 200 | NEW: opened 8 Oct 2026, reported 13 Oct 2026 (Standart, DBR); team to exceed 200 people; amount not disclosed – not in total |
| Nationwide (stated in Albena, Dobrich province) | Investment Programme for municipal projects – EUR 101m paid out in one month (over 560 payments, over 300 projects) | Public funding / municipal infrastructure | – | – | 12 Oct 2026 (BTA); contracts for 2,370 of 3,492 projects; payouts, not a new project – not in total |
| Nationwide (announced in Sliven) | Innovation Ministry – nearly EUR 83m for green technology in micro, small and medium firms (Ivan Vasilev) | Funding / SMEs, green technology | – | – | 10 Oct 2026 (BTA); machinery, equipment, software; programme, not a project – not in total; application date not given |
| Sliven / south-east Bulgaria | Fund of Funds – over EUR 120m for projects in south-eastern Bulgaria (stated by Alexander Poulev at Sliven forum) | Funding / infrastructure, SMEs | – | – | 10 Oct 2026; funding pool, not a single project – not in total; no companies or jobs named |
| Sofia province (Pirdop) | Aurubis Bulgaria – copper tankhouse expansion, EU strategic project | Metallurgy / raw materials | – | – | EU status 9 Oct 2026; EUR 120m investment already announced in 2023 (not in total); cathode copper from 230,000 to 340,000 t/year; no job figure |
| Stara Zagora (Kazanlak) | Arsenal AD – new automated nitrocellulose line (part of a programme of over EUR 300m) | Defence | – | – | opened 8 Oct 2026, reported 9 Oct; whole programme over EUR 300m (not in total – cost of the line not given); no job figure |
| Shumen (near Smyadovo) | Karash Invest – planned gunpowder plant, added to list of strategic sites | Defence | – | – | Council of Ministers decision of 7 Oct 2026; amount and jobs not stated |
| Plovdiv (Krumovo village) | Senora (NL4YOU) – production and trade base with showroom | Clothing / fashion | – | 50 | Reported 23 Sep 2026; nearly EUR 2m (approximate, not in total); construction from autumn 2026 |
| Burgas (Burgas Industrial Park, phase 2) | Park phase 2 (c. 60 ha): 8 investors, 2 already building | Industrial park / infrastructure | – | – | Reported 29 Sep 2026; infrastructure nearly EUR 20m (EU recovery plan); phase 1 has over 1,000 jobs |
| Burgas / Karlovo (Plovdiv province) | Rheinmetall – gunpowder and 155mm ammunition plants | Defence | – | – | Per Mediapool (5 Oct 2026) gunpowder plant moves to Burgas; per Valentin Radev unclear how far the ammunition plant near Karlovo will go ahead (c. 1,000 jobs expected there) |
| Sliven (industrial park) | Sugarland – warehouse and trade base (4,976 m² plot) | Food and drinks distribution | 0.7 | 10 | Reported 2 Oct 2026; construction to start within 12 months, completion within 36 |
| Nationwide | Textile, clothing and leather industry (BATOK) – firms cutting staff, closing | Textiles and clothing | – | – | Letter to PM and 8 ministers (2 Oct 2026), reported again 5 Oct 2026; no specific figures |
| Veliko Tarnovo (Lyaskovets) | Armako Industries – production expansion | Metal and plastic parts | 50.0 | – | Planned, announced 2 Oct 2026 (over EUR 50m) |
| Dobrich | Magic Flame – Klas Olio: sunflower oil and meal plant | Food processing | 20.0 | 60 | Opened 25 Sep 2026; 60 jobs (other report: 100) |
| Ruse | Bulmarket Group – LVZ industrial park (over EUR 60m; over 210 staff) | Rail equipment | 60.0 | 210 | Opened 1 Oct 2026 |
| Kardzhali | VESS Modules – solar module plant (1 GW/year) | Solar manufacturing | 15.0 | 200 | Opened 1 Oct 2026; c. 300 jobs at full capacity |
| Sofia | Healthy Bars – new protein-bar plant | Food | 22.0 | – | Under construction, completion in coming months (18 Sep 2026) |
| Tenevo (Yambol province) | Renalfa IPP & Eurowind – 242 MWp solar + 311 MW battery storage | Energy | – | – | Commissioned 30 Sep 2026 |
| Indicator | vs prior month (%, seasonally adj.) | vs year earlier (%, calendar adj.) | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial production, August 2026 | +0.7 % | −5.4 % | 9 Oct 2026 |
| – manufacturing, August 2026 | +0.8 % | −6.1 % | 9 Oct 2026 |
| – energy (power, heat, gas), August 2026 | +10.7 % | +42.4 % | 9 Oct 2026 |
| – mining and quarrying, August 2026 | −19.7 % | −54.1 % | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Industrial production, July 2026 | −3.0 % | −6.8 % | 9 Oct 2026 (per BTA) |
| Construction output, August 2026 | +0.8 % | +4.2 % | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Retail sales, August 2026 (comparable prices) | +0.3 % | +5.9 % | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Inflation (CPI), September 2026 – flash estimate; final data due 14 Oct, not yet published at 07:25 (Berlin) | −0.3 % | +5.6 % | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Region | Registered, August 2026 (Employment Agency) | Labour Force Survey 2025 (NSI) |
|---|---|---|
| Bulgaria | 5.47 | 3.5 |
| Stara Zagora | 4.93 | – |
| Dobrich | 4.20 | – |
| Veliko Tarnovo (labour office area) | 4.00 | – |
For information only, not investment advice. Prices as of the time stated, not real-time quotes.
Sources
- Standart – Neues Werk bei Sofia: dormakaba in Nowi Han, über 200 Beschäftigte, eröffnet 8.10. (13.10.2026, 17:38)
- DBR – Über 200 Arbeitsplätze: neues Werk für automatische Türen in Nowi Han (13.10.2026)
- BTA – Poulev in Washington: Potenzial für Industriepartnerschaft mit den USA, keine Verträge genannt (13.10.2026, 13:09)
- BNT – Pulew in Washington: Bulgarien offen für US-Investitionen (13.10.2026, 12:19)
- BTA – Bürgermeister und Staat in Albena: 101 Mio. Euro in einem Monat für über 300 Gemeindeprojekte (12.10.2026, 14:21)
- BTA – PM Radev meets US business delegation (12.10.2026, 15:59)
- BTA – Fast-track mechanism for tourism investment projects, Minister Dimitrov (12.10.2026, 16:48)
- BTA – Radev and EU Commission EVP Virkkunen on technology investment (12.10.2026, 21:03)
- 24 Chasa – Pulew führt Delegation in die USA, Programm der Treffen (11.10.2026, 12:34)
- Standart – Pulew führt bulgarische Wirtschaft in die USA, 11.–16.10. (11.10.2026, 15:23)
- novini247 – Delegation beginnt Treffen in den USA, keine Ergebnisse genannt (11.10.2026, 16:41)
- BTA – Poulev leitet dritte Rüstungs- und Sicherheits-Wirtschaftsmission in die USA, 11.–16.10., 30 Vertreter von 20 Firmen (11.10.2026, 13:56)
- BTA – Fast 83 Mio. Euro für grüne Technologien in KMU, Minister Wassilew (10.10.2026, 14:16)
- NSI – Inflation September 2026, Schnellschätzung: 5,6 % J/J, −0,3 % M/M; endgültig am 14.10.2026 (1.10.2026)
- 24 Chasa – Pulew: über 120 Mio. Euro aus dem Fonds der Fonds für Südostbulgarien (10.10.2026, 15:41)
- Standart – Sliwen: Mittlerer Korridor, 120 Mio. Euro, Forum mit Pulew (10.10.2026, 17:35)
- Economic.bg – Kupfer aus Pirdop in EU-Rohstoffplänen, 120 Mio. Euro, 230.000→340.000 t (9.10.2026, 16:45)
- Club Z – Pirdop-Projekt erhält EU-Strategiestatus (9.10.2026, 11:22)
- BTA – New Nitrocellulose Plant at Arsenal (9.10.2026, 10:45)
- 24 Chasa – Pulew eröffnet Nitrozellulose-Anlage bei Arsenal (9.10.2026)
- News.bg – Neue Nitrozellulose-Anlage bei Arsenal (9.10.2026)
- Dir.bg – Arsenal investiert über 300 Mio. Euro (9.10.2026)
- novini247 – Pulew bei Arsenal, Eröffnung „gestern“ (9.10.2026)
- Standart – Über 300 Mio. Investitionen bei Arsenal (9.10.2026)
- ShumenOnline – Karash Invest in Liste strategischer Objekte (7.10.2026)
- Novinite – Gunpowder plant near Smyadovo approved (8.10.2026)
- BTA – Industrieproduktion August 2026: −5,4 % J/J, +0,7 % M/M (9.10.2026, 11:21)
- BTA – Bauproduktion August 2026: +4,2 % J/J (9.10.2026, 11:33)
- Investor.bg – Industrieproduktion August (9.10.2026)
- NSI – Pressemitteilungen: Einzelhandelsumsatz August 2026 +0,3 % zum Vormonat (7.10.2026)
- BTA – Einzelhandelsumsatz August 2026: +0,3 % M/M, +5,9 % J/J (NSI, 7.10.2026, 11:21)
- Plovdiv24 – Senora/NL4YOU: knapp 2 Mio. Euro, mind. 50 Stellen, Krumowo (23.9.2026)
- Focus – Industriepark Burgas: über 1000 Stellen, Phase 2 mit 8 Investoren (29.9.2026)
- Mediapool – Fragen um das Rheinmetall-Werk; Munitionswerk bleibt bei Karlowo (5.10.2026)
- Plovdiv24 – Textilbranche: Firmen bauen ab und schließen (5.10.2026)
- Focus – BATOK-Brief an Premier und 8 Minister (2.10.2026)
- Blitz – Näherei-Firmen bauen ab und schließen (3.10.2026)
- Standart – Sugarland, Industriepark Sliwen, 700.000 Euro (2.10.2026)
- BTA – Pulew: Rheinmetall-Werk binnen 30 Monaten (4.10.2026)
- BTA – Registrierte Arbeitslosigkeit August 2026: 5,47 % (17.9.2026)
- BTA – Weliko Tarnowo: Arbeitslosigkeit August 4 % (16.9.2026)
- KarlovoPress – Pulew: Rheinmetall-Werk binnen 30 Monaten (5.10.2026)
- Focus – Pulew: neues Gelände bei Burgas für Rheinmetall (2.10.2026)
- Burgasnews – Pulverwerk Rheinmetall bei Burgas (4.10.2026)
- Mediapool – Kabinett verlegt Rheinmetall-Werk nach Burgas (2.10.2026)
- Standart – Armako Industries Ljaskowez (3.10.2026)
- Economic.bg – Direktinvestitionen Jan.–Juli 2026: 3,45 Mrd. Euro, BNB (18.9.2026)
- Standart – VESS Modules Kardschali, ca. 200 Stellen (2.10.2026)
- Standart – Bulmarket LVZ Russe (2.10.2026)
- Fakti.bg – Armako Industries, über 50 Mio. Euro (2.10.2026)
- RegNews – Pulew bei Armako in Ljaskowez (2.10.2026)
- DBR – Armako Ljaskowez (3.10.2026)
- 24 Chasa – Werk Magic Flame – Klas Olio, Dobritsch (25.9.2026)
- Novinite – Dobrich plant, 60 jobs (26.9.2026)
- BTA – Bulmarket LVZ Ruse (1.10.2026)
- Money.bg – VESS Modules Kardzhali (1.10.2026)
- SeeNews – Healthy Bars (18.9.2026)
- SeeNews – Renalfa/Eurowind Tenevo (30.9.2026)
- BTA – Rheinmetall project (2.10.2026)
- BTA – Stara Zagora unemployment August 2026
- BTA – Dobrich unemployment August 2026
- NSI – Arbeitskräfteerhebung 2025 (Bulgarien, 3,5 %)
- novini247 – Direktinvestitionen Jan.–Juli 2026 (3,448 Mrd., davon 2,622 Mrd. reinvestiert; BNB vorläufig)
