Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Bulgaria amounted to €260.2 million in the first two months of 2024, constituting 0.3% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as per the data released by the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB).
The current figures indicate a substantial decline compared to the same period in 2023 when FDI stood at €757.2 million. It’s worth noting that the BNB revised the initial 2023 FDI data from €398.5 million to €757.2 million later.
Investments in equity, inclusive of the real estate sector, reached €16.6 million, a decrease from €61.4 million recorded in January-February 2023. Meanwhile, re-invested earnings amounted to €270.8 million, down from €758.3 million in the corresponding period last year.
Net receipts from real estate investments by foreign companies showed a modest inflow of €0.04 million, contrasting with €3.2 million in the first two months of 2023.
The BNB’s data also highlighted an investment outflow of €27.2 million in debt instruments, indicating a decrease from €62.5 million in the same period in 2023. This category encompasses financial loans, suppliers’ credits, and debt securities.
Italy emerged as the top investor in Bulgaria with €78 million, followed by the Netherlands with €67.7 million, and Greece with €41.1 million. On the other hand, notable net outflows were observed towards Israel (€-28.3 million) and Austria (€-2.4 million).
Additionally, the BNB reported a rise in Bulgarian investments abroad by €19.1 million in January-February, compared to €135.9 million in the corresponding months of the previous year.
