I plan and have the ambition to personally function as an employer organization and take care of the interests of every current and future investor. Changes in the regulatory framework are needed to make the investment process much faster, so that we do not lose potential investors. We will focus on professional education and the qualification of young people. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev at the official launch in Plovdiv of the EU pilot project “Carbon Neutral Thrace Economic Zone“ (0-Carbon Trakia Economic Zone C0TEZ).
The project aims to develop a detailed plan for the future energy development of the “Thrace Economic Zone“ and its transformation into the first carbon-neutral industrial park in the EU. It is planned that the expected investments in high-tech and energy-intensive production will reach 4 billion euros.
“Industry is the most underestimated sector in the Bulgarian economy. Its problems, needs and opportunities are not talked about, and it is more than a quarter of GDP – nearly 28%, it is the backbone of the Bulgarian economy and the sector to which we are all indebted“, Deputy Prime Minister Donchev was categorical. He added: "I have promised to wage a personal war against the prejudice that nothing is produced in Bulgaria."
He stated that it is of utmost importance to multiply the experience of the C0TEZ in at least four or five other promising points in the country. "The model here is good in terms of concentration, scale, cooperation between the state and local authorities and the commitment of business to education," said Donchev. According to him, if there were several such centers, the country's GDP would be 50% higher. The Deputy Prime Minister also emphasized that the main focus is on the evolution of technologies with high added value.
Donchev thanked the German Ambassador to Bulgaria, H.E. Irene Planck, for the German investments in our country.
The C0TEZ project was initiated and led by Prof. Dr. Georgi P. Georgiev, and the partner is the association “Cluster Thrace Economic Zone“. It is being implemented with the help and in collaboration with Bulgaria's strategic partner - Germany, and is financed by the German Federal Foundation for the Environment (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt – DBU) as a priority international strategic project. The three parties signed the project agreement today.
The event was also attended by the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Germany to Bulgaria H.E. Mrs. Irene Planck, the Honorary Consul of Germany in Plovdiv Mariana Cholakova, the Secretary General of the German Federal Foundation for the Environment Alexander Bonde, the Executive Director of “Thrace Economic Zone“ and Chairman of “Cluster Thrace Economic Zone“ Eng. Plamen Panchev, experts from the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, representatives of municipalities in the region and local businesses.