The Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AICB) wants the National Economic Council to monitor how the National Industrial Strategy is carried out. The association said it will ask for the council to be convened on the issue.

The proposal came at a meeting of the AICB National Council yesterday. Employers also discussed how to bring artificial intelligence (AI) into Bulgarian firms faster.

AICB management board chairman Rumen Radev chaired the meeting. He said AI must lead to real gains in productivity, efficiency and competitiveness for Bulgarian business. The association wants the new technology to drive competitiveness.

Nikolay Karamihov, director of the Innovation Policy and Entrepreneurship directorate at the Ministry of Innovation and Digital Transformation, and expert Martin Stoyanov explained what the ministry is doing to develop and introduce AI. Participants talked about national rules for applying the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, upgrading equipment in firms, and the need for technical infrastructure and digital skills. They said investment in technology, energy and the needs of companies must be planned together.

Zhelyaz Enev and Kremena Nedkova from the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Innovation spoke about the industrial strategy. The AICB welcomed the effort to build a consistent industrial policy. But it wants the nationally representative employers' organisations and their sector bodies to take part in planning, carrying out and monitoring the steps. The association says business already plays an active part thanks to the work of the ministry's team. If the Economic Council takes over the monitoring, the state and business will work better together and industry's needs will be taken into account in time, the AICB says.

At the end of July, the economy ministry said the analysis for the strategy was ready. Work now starts on the strategy document, with a vision, priorities and steps for industry up to 2035. The priorities are a more competitive industry, upgrading technology, digitalisation, sensible use of resources and building workers' skills.

Employers also discussed their demands for the 2027 budget. The AICB keeps urging the state to fix its finances through structural reforms and wiser spending of public money. It opposes higher taxes and social security contributions.

Prime Minister Rumen Radev said yesterday that the budget will be presented next week. He named his priorities as fixing public finances, more social and family support, and more money for defence, health, education, culture, sport and other critically important sectors. He said the budget will focus on incentives for production and tax breaks, because only more output, higher productivity and competitiveness can truly meet its aims.

The National Council admitted six new members: the Alliance for Sustainable Development of Artificial Intelligence, the Bulgarian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Meta 8 Ltd, the Professional Cosmetics Sector association, Social Cloud KCHT and Yukvizas Ltd. The AICB says this widens its reach into different sectors and gives it more room for cooperation, sharing experience and joint initiatives.

The AICB, the Foreign Ministry and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will hold a high-level seminar in Sofia on 12 November at 9:00am. It will mark 10 years since the AICB and UNIDO signed a cooperation agreement. The seminar will present programmes and chances for Bulgarian firms to join international projects, get technology and enter new markets.