Law on Investment Promotion (IPA) introduced a system of incentives for initial investments in tangible and intangible assets and the related vacant positions, according to Regulation № 800/2008 of the European Commission, as multisectoral regional aid and aid for professional training.
In order an investment to qualify for promotion it must meet the following conditions:
- investments to the creation of new or the expansion of an existing enterprises, diversification of the production or a fundamental change in the overall production process;
- be in some of the following economic activities: manufacturing, information technology, research and development, human health and medical care services, education, warehousing and support activities for transportation;
- at least 80 percent of the total future revenue must be form manufactured products (goods and services);
- at least 40 percent of the eligible costs to be finance with own or borrowed funds;
- the acquired assets must be new and purchased at market rates from third independent parties;
- to maintain the investment for at least five years for large enterprises and three years for small and medium enterprises;
- create new jobs and maintain them at least five years for large enterprises and three years for small and medium enterprises; and
- duration of implementation must be three years.
Classes of Investments
According to their size, investments are divided into Class A, Class B and Priority Investment Projects.
| Class A (Million Levs) |
Class B (Million Levs) |
Specifics |
| 20 | 10 | In general |
| 7 | 4 | In municipalities with unemployment rates equal to or higher than the national average |
| In high-tech industries (production of chemical and pharmaceutical products, computer and communication equipment, electronic and optical products, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, vehicles, medical and dental instruments and supplies and related installation, repair and maintenance) |
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| 4 | 2 | In high-tech and intensive knowledge-based services (information technology and services, research and development, education, human health and medical care activities) |
Priority Investment Projects
Priorities are investment projects in all sectors of the economy in accordance with Regulation (EC) № 800/2008 which are particularly important for the economic development of the Republic of Bulgaria or regions in the country.
| Threshold (Million Levs) |
Minimum Number of Employees | Subject |
| 100 | 200 | In general |
| 70 | 100 | For construction of industrial zone and its development to industrial park |
| 50 | 100 | In high-tech industries and municipalities with unemployment – higher than the average in the country |
| 30 | 50 | To build a technology park |
| 20 | 50 | In high-tech and intensive knowledge-based services (information technology and services, research and development, education, human health and medical care activities) |
Investment thresholds can be reduced with an increase in the minimum number of employees:
- for each 100 additional employees – lowering the threshold with 10 per cent – in general, in municipalities with high unemployment, and high-tech industries for industrial zones;
- for each 50 additional employees – lowering the threshold with 10 per cent – in high-tech services and technology parks.
Measures to promote investment
| Measure | Class |
| Reduced time for administrative services | А, B, Priority |
| Individual administrative services | А, Priority |
| Easier procedure (no tender or competition) for the acquisition of ownership or limited real rights on state or municipal real estates |
А, B, Priority |
| Sale, exchange or establishment of limited real rights without a tender on property of state or municipal companies |
А, B, Priority |
| Financial support for construction of infrastructure | А, 2 projects class B in industrial zones, Priority |
| Financial support for professional training (high-tech activities or in municipalities with high unemployment) |
А, B, Priority |
| Sale or establishing of limited real rights on state or municipal property, without a tender at market or lower prices and exemption from stamp duty in case of change of the designation of land |
Priority |
| Sale, exchange or establishment of limited real rights without a tender on property owned by a state or municipal company at market or lower prices |
Priority |
| Institutional support, public-private partnership or establishing joint ventures |
Priority |
| Different types of transactions concluded between the investor and the company established to build and develop industrial zones |
Priority |
| Grants:
-50 per cent of the cost of investment in education and research, |
Priority |
Certification procedure
Applications for issuance of an investment class or priority project certificate shall be submitted to the Bulgarian Investment Agency. The Executive Director submits to the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism (the Minister) a proposal for granting or refusing to grant a certificate within 30 days of receipt of the application.
The certificate is issued by the Minister or by an authorized official.
The procedure for the issuance of a certificate of priority investment project is the same, but in addition the Minister files to the Government a proposal for signing of a memorandum of understanding or agreement with the investor. After approval of the memorandum or the agreement by the Government the Minister issues the certificate of priority investment project.