The Bulgarian National Bank (BNB) reported a notable surge in the net inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into Bulgaria during the period of January to September. The figures indicate a substantial increase from 2.14 billion euros in the first nine months of 2022 to 3.17 billion euros for the same period in 2023.
Expressed as a percentage of Bulgaria’s projected gross domestic product (GDP) for 2023, the net FDI inflow accounted for 3.3%. This represents a growth compared to the 2.5% of the GDP recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Examining the monthly breakdown, the data for September reveals a net FDI inflow of 423.4 million euros, slightly lower than the 472.1 million euros recorded in the same month the previous year.
The primary contributors to Bulgaria’s FDI influx during the review period were identified as the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. The Netherlands led with a substantial net FDI inflow of 691.6 million euros, followed by Austria with 288.9 million euros and Switzerland with 246.4 million euros.
Conversely, Bulgaria experienced net outflows to Israel (15.6 million euros) and Russia (15.5 million euros) during the same period. These findings provide valuable insights into the FDI landscape in Bulgaria, highlighting both the significant contributors and destinations of foreign investments. The data suggests a pronounced attraction of FDI to Bulgaria, particularly from European countries, shaping the economic landscape of the nation.
