During a meeting with the National Council of the Bulgarian Association of Industrial Capital, Caretaker Economy and Industry Minister Irina Shtonova addressed the challenges faced by businesses amid global uncertainty. She reported that the ministry collaborated closely with employers to implement effective support measures for the industrial sector. Shtonova highlighted early interventions, noting that initial compensation calculations for businesses, which were based on six-month periods due to high electricity costs, proved inadequate.
She confirmed that the mechanism was quickly revised to calculate compensation on a monthly basis. Furthermore, she emphasized the significance of the European Commission’s approval to introduce temporary state aid, allocating EUR 334 million over three years to maintain the economic viability of energy-intensive enterprises. To mitigate the repercussions of the military conflict in the Middle East, the government has implemented targeted measures designed to support specific sectors without generating inflationary pressures across the broader economy.
These actions include providing liquidity support for transportation companies and agricultural producers. To ease immediate financial burdens, the government is offering guarantees for lease agreements, allowing payments to be deferred until the end of the year, and has postponed planned increases in toll fees affecting all economic sectors. The Minister stressed that ongoing dialogue between the ministry and employers remains fundamental to sound policymaking.
She stated that this collaborative engagement has been a top priority and must continue to guide future decisions for the nation’s business landscape.
Topics: #economy #ministry #employers
