On 22 October 2026, the Association of the Organisations of Bulgarian Employers (AOBE) held a meeting with presidential candidate Andrey Gyurov. The meeting was attended by representatives of the four member organisations of AOBE – the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA), the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), and the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIBG) – as well as experts from Andrey Gyurov's team[1].
During the discussion, AOBE's main priorities for 2026 were presented, serving as a starting point for addressing the country's current economic challenges and the prerequisites for achieving long-term economic growth.
Particular attention was paid to the need for a predictable economic environment, effective public financial management and overcoming structural problems that constrain economic development.
A key topic of discussion was the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy, investment conditions and opportunities to generate higher added value. In this context, the participants examined the prospects for Bulgaria's membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the importance of progress towards removal from the international "grey list" for strengthening confidence in the country and attracting investment.
The discussion also addressed the need for a balanced approach to the objectives of the green transition, taking into account both environmental commitments and their impact on competitiveness and enterprises' ability to adapt to changing conditions.
The meeting also covered the need for administrative reform, streamlining the work of public administration and introducing clearer and more predictable administrative procedures and regulatory requirements as factors contributing to more efficient public services and a better business environment.
Regarding regional development, the participants discussed challenges related to depopulation, the concentration of the population in major regional cities and opportunities for more balanced development across the country's regions.
The discussion also covered issues related to social policy and healthcare, including the effectiveness of social assistance, the development of the pension system and employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
In the field of international economic relations, attention was given to opportunities for closer alignment of foreign policy with Bulgaria's economic interests. The participants discussed conditions for supporting Bulgarian enterprises in accessing international markets, as well as the need for clear and transparent criteria and procedures for providing such support.
Education was also addressed as an important factor in economic growth, human capital development and the formation of an active civil society. In this context, attention was drawn to the links between the education system, the needs of the economy and workforce training as essential elements for increasing the country's productivity and competitiveness.
The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on key issues and highlighted the importance of open dialogue between businesses and institutions in identifying common solutions to support the Bulgarian economy.
[1] AOBE was represented at the meeting by Dobrin Ivanov – Executive Director of BICA, and Ivelin Zhelyazkov – Director of Tripartite Cooperation at BICA; Dobri Mitrev – Chairman of the Management Board of BIA and Rotating Chairman of AOBE, and Stanislav Popdonchev – Deputy Chairman of BIA; Vasil Todorov – Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of BCCI, and Boryana Abadzhieva – Head of the Economic Analysis and Policy Department at BCCI; Boyan Mitrakiev – Executive Director of CEIBG, Stoyan Stavrev – Member of the Management Board of CEIBG, and Georgi Kisyov – Expert at CEIBG.
Experts from Andrey Gyurov's team also participated in the meeting, including Mihail Okoliyski, Georgi Klisurski, Ginka Mashova, Nikolay Naydenov, Traycho Traykov, Korman Ismailov and Sergey Ignatov.
