Minister of Economy: There is Keener Investor Interest towards Bulgaria

For the year 2017 we are in the top 5 in economic development, this year we predict the same parameters, but we will work to make them higher, the Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov tld BNT on 2nd of February.

Gross domestic product is 3.9, unemployment is about 6%, the average wage was increased by 10%. The parameters are good, there is a strong investor interest in Bulgaria.

This is evidenced by the latest analyses - for the last two months of 2017, added Minister Karanikolov. In his words, investments are returning as the main pillar of GDP - the real figure is about 4.3%. So far, the main pillars were exports and domestic consumption, he explained.

Minister Karanikolov also outlined the main competitiveness issues - they are the same as in the whole EU, he noted - lack of labour force, lack of funding and administrative burdens.

As regards the fight against the shadow economy, he reminded that the 2015-2016 strategy was adopted and implemented, the revenue agencies, the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Agency and the National Revenue Agency (NRA) are doing well and continue the fight, he added.

Karanikolov also advises workers to cooperate by submitting signals if they receive their pay "under the table".

Regarding the economic imbalance between the regions of the country, the Minister commented that companies are already looking for places with high unemployment, because on one hand there is labour force, on the other hand, the state gives additional incentives for investments in similar regions