Deputy minister of economy, investment and industry Krasimir Yakimov said several funds for small and medium-sized firms are already working. The Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) and the Fund of Funds are preparing new programmes to finance them.
He spoke to people at the seventh international conference "Financial and Investment Support for SMEs – SOFIA INTERNATIONAL MONEY EXPO 2026". It is organised by the SME Promotion Executive Agency, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Investment Council. The forum brings together business, public bodies, the financial sector and investors. Entrepreneurs learn about funding tools and the support open to their firms at different stages of growth.
Micro, small and medium-sized firms make up 99.8% of all businesses in Bulgaria. In 2025 they provided 75.5% of jobs and created nearly 65% of the total value added in the economy.
That is why access to funding matters so much for the economy, Yakimov said. In his view, the part these firms play shows how much they count for the economy's performance and stability. It also calls for steps aimed specifically at them and their problems, he said.
"The strategic goal of SME policy in Bulgaria is to move the economy towards sectors with higher added value," the deputy minister said. He said this should come through innovation, new technology and higher productivity.
Sources of funding that complement each other will keep growing: grants, loans, guarantees and equity investment. "Used together and with a clear aim, they can give more room to grow, both for start-ups and for firms that are already established," Yakimov explained.
He expects the conference to bring practical talks, an exchange of experience and concrete solutions to help business find the right funding.
The new tools that will open through the BDB and the Fund of Funds should cover the whole life cycle of a firm. The ministry's work is already widening funding options, from standard loans and guarantees to special tools for start-ups, innovative firms and fast-growing firms.