Deputy prime minister and economy minister Alexander Pulev has signed a joint declaration with the US on AI partnership in Washington. The US launched the initiative, and 54 countries take part.
Pulev signed the document with US under secretary of state for economic affairs Jacob Helberg. The declaration covers innovation, reliable supply chains, secure digital infrastructure and attracting investment. It also sets a common framework for building the technical base for AI.
Pulev and Helberg discussed wider economic partnership, US investment in sectors of national importance, and the development of AI and high technology. Pulev presented Bulgaria's IT sector, its engineers, its research and its chance to take part in building Europe's AI base. He also mentioned INSAIT, the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology, which attracts Bulgarian and foreign scientists and builds the country's research strength in this field.
"Bulgaria is no longer on the periphery, but at the heart of high-tech development in Europe," Pulev said.
His other meeting at the State Department was with US assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs Fleet White. The two discussed the F-16 Block 70 fighter jet programme, joint projects with the US company on industrial cooperation, and closer work on space and satellite technology.
Both meetings covered the partnership between the two countries, security in the Black Sea region, defence and wider economic ties in high technology. The sides named security, the defence industry, AI, space technology and investment of national importance as areas for cooperation.
Pulev said Bulgaria is a reliable NATO ally and clearly wants to partner with the US. In the current situation, he said, security in the Black Sea area needs constant coordination and joint action by allies.
The deputy prime minister said there is strong political will for more economic ties with the US in high technology and in high-value production. He said Bulgaria can become an important part of the production chains of future industries. He noted that companies in electronics, high technology, and the space and defence industries already work in Bulgaria, including with American partners.
Pulev said the aim is to turn interest in Bulgaria into real investment, technology transfer and joint production. He said there are chances for high-value partnerships. Among the priorities, he listed electric vehicles and batteries, data centres and the AI base, space technology and cybersecurity.
"We are building the biggest space centre in Europe," Pulev said of the project in Dobroslavtsi. Satellite solutions are being developed there for the National Centre for Observation, Coordination and Management using data from space. According to the deputy prime minister, the project is a step towards Bulgaria becoming a leading European centre for space technology and innovation, and it opens the way to high-tech production, investment and new opportunities for industry.