KazMunayGas, the state-owned oil company of Kazakhstan, is reportedly taking part in a tender to acquire the Bulgaria-based refinery of the Russian oil giant Lukoil, known as Lukoil Neftokhim Burgas. According to Bloomberg and 24 Chasa, which cite two sources familiar with the negotiations, KazMunayGas has submitted an offer in the ongoing sale process. If…
Bulgaria is currently meeting the Maastricht criteria required for eurozone membership, with its macroeconomic indicators showing a stable path toward adopting the euro until 2024. According to data from Eurostat, inflation in Bulgaria has remained consistently below 3% for several consecutive months, fulfilling one of the key conditions for joining the single currency. From June…
During recent inspections in Bulgaria’s winter resorts, tax authorities uncovered several establishments failing to issue proper sales receipts. The National Revenue Agency (NRA) conducted checks across popular tourist destinations, including Bansko, Razlog, Dobrinishte, Banya, Borovets, Smolyan and Pamporovo, identifying 28 businesses that were not fully compliant with reporting regulations. Among the violations found were discrepancies…
Bulgaria’s banking sector is bracing for an increase in non-performing loans (NPLs), as the cost of covering potential bad debts has nearly doubled in 2024. According to the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), the provisions for impairment of financial assets reached 578 million leva as of the end of November 2024, a significant rise compared to…
Starting from January 1, travelers with children no longer need to provide declarations of consent from absent parents when crossing into Greece and Romania, as announced by Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police. This change applies to travel to these two countries, following the removal of land border checks between Bulgaria, Romania…
The Bulgarian economy faces a significant workforce shortage, with over 250,000 vacancies across various sectors. The most acute deficits are found in construction and healthcare, where there is a lack of specialized professionals and managerial staff. As a result, businesses are bracing for rising labor costs as they compete to retain qualified workers. Companies are…
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Finance projects a budget deficit of approximately 6.1 billion leva for 2024, equating to 3% of the anticipated GDP. This forecast aligns with the reference value set by the Stability and Growth Pact and is marginally better than the initial estimate of 6.2 billion leva outlined in the annual budget. The ministry…