Bulgaria's Poulev courts U.S. defense firms to manufacture in Bulgaria
Deputy Prime Minister Poulev leads 20 Bulgarian companies in Washington to attract high-tech and defense investment, proposing joint ventures with the state.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Alexander Poulev has pitched U.S. investment in high technology and defense in Washington. According to the BTA news agency, he opened a forum on defense and security opportunities in the Black Sea region together with Bradley McKinney of the U.S. Commerce Department. The event was part of the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting, which draws more than 40,000 participants.
Poulev led a delegation of 20 Bulgarian companies organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. He met representatives of Boeing Defense, Space & Security and L3Harris and visited Lockheed Martin's Washington headquarters. "Bulgaria is open to attracting US investment," Poulev said, adding that maritime security is one of the country's key priorities.
The minister proposed expanding production capacity, modernizing existing plants and setting up joint ventures directly with the Bulgarian state, so that products are made in Bulgaria rather than simply bought off the shelf. Drones and counter-drone systems, surveillance, cybersecurity, aviation and space technology are in focus. No specific contracts or investment figures were announced.