Bulgaria is preparing to become a key player in the European defense industry. This became clear after an official ceremony at the Council of Ministers, where a project for the construction of a gunpowder and ammunition factory was signed. The executive director of the company "Rheinmetall", Armin Papperger, expressed confidence in the country's strategic role in this field.
The air in the hall where the ceremony took place was filled with anticipation. Dozens of journalists took their seats, and teams from different television stations were preparing their cameras. The event itself was a testament to a significant change in the dynamics of the defense sector.
"The speed with which Bulgaria is acting, I haven't seen before. It is incredible how much effort your team put into this cooperation.", noted Papperger, emphasizing the company's high assessment of the steps taken. He stressed that the partnership started in February at the Munich Security Conference. It is expected that the new factory will be one of the most modern factories in the world for the production of gunpowder and ammunition.
The project provides for the creation of a significant production capacity. 100,000 155-millimeter shells will be produced annually, which will be exported over the next ten years. This is of critical importance, given the growing demand for such products. "The European Union and NATO need millions of such shells, and according to our calculations, the alliance will need about 50 million", said Papperger.
The executive director of "Rheinmetall" stressed that the company highly values the trust shown by the Bulgarian government. "We are not here just to be business partners, but also to find friends", said Papperger. He added that the joint project is only the beginning and the company plans further investments in the country. He pointed out that Bulgaria has highly qualified specialists, which makes it suitable for the development of industrial and technological capacity in the defense sphere. The atmosphere was filled with optimism and clarity about the new prospects that are opening up for the country.