Alexander Pulev, deputy prime minister and minister of economy, investment and industry, told BNT that the draft budget for 2027 will be presented next week. It sets aside €135m to develop industrial zones.

Every euro of state investment is expected to bring 5, 10 or 20 euros from private investors. Zones with high potential have been picked across Bulgaria, and more details of the analyses behind them will come next week.

"This budget will be the budget of Progressive Bulgaria, of our government," Pulev said on the programme "The Day Starts with Georgi Lyubenov". He said the budget will have all the tools needed for growth.

Replacing old debt with new debt is standard financial practice, and the level of debt is still low, the deputy prime minister said. New borrowing is acceptable when it is tied to reforms: investment in industrial zones, a better business climate and support for industry. Pulev is against loans only to "plug holes" and pay current salaries, because they lead to a debt spiral.

Protests do not worry him, he added, and he always holds out a hand to the trade unions and the non-governmental sector.

Pulev also spoke about Bulgaria leaving the "grey list" of countries under increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force, which coordinates international efforts against money laundering and terrorist financing. He called it huge news for investment and a success for the country, which sends a strong positive signal to foreign and local investors. This, he said, "paves the way and opens the door wide" for Bulgaria to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Investment under the component run by the Investment Screening Committee, which Pulev chairs, has grown by 65% during the term. Bulgarian exports over the last eight months are up 10%. The deputy prime minister said this is an unprecedented result, given the historic "scissors" gap in the foreign trade balance.