Sofia
• 2.49m sq m modern office stock
• EUR 16 / sq m / month Class A rent
• Largest startup and AI ecosystem
• EUR 16 / sq m / month Class A rent
• Largest startup and AI ecosystem
Why Bulgaria
INVESTOR INSIGHT PORTAL
Why Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is your next EU hub for technology, business services and AI-driven growth – combining a competitive cost base, strong talent and a stable macroeconomic environment.
Powered by AIBEST – Association for Innovation, Business Excellence, Services & Technology
ICT share of national GVA
0%
Among the highest in the EU.
Sourcing sector employment
0
Full-time professionals in BPO, ITO and R&D.
Companies in the ecosystem
0
Sourcing companies analysed in the AIBEST Annual Report.
BULGARIA AT A GLANCE
EU, NATO and Eurozone (2026) with a flat 10% corporate and personal income tax and a currency pegged to the euro – minimising risk and supporting long-term planning.
Macroeconomics
Bulgaria at a glance
A stable EU and NATO member with competitive taxation, low public debt and strong digital momentum – offering one of the most attractive cost-to-value ratios in Europe.
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Population (2024)
0%
Real GDP growth (2024)
0%
Unemployment (approx.)
0%
Flat corporate & personal income tax
Talent & Education
Deep tech talent at a competitive cost
Bulgaria offers a mature pool of multilingual STEM professionals, strong ICT education and rising AI capabilities – while keeping labour costs significantly below Western Europe.
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Software engineers
0
Annual graduates relevant to sourcing (ICT, business, engineering)
0
AI-focused companies, mainly clustered in Sofia
• Strong STEM heritage with established programmes in computer science, engineering and mathematics.
• Multilingual workforce with broad coverage of English, German, French, Spanish and other European languages.
• Competitive labour costs with growing productivity and high value-added roles in ITO and R&D.
• Multilingual workforce with broad coverage of English, German, French, Spanish and other European languages.
• Competitive labour costs with growing productivity and high value-added roles in ITO and R&D.
Sourcing & Tech Ecosystem
A resilient sourcing and technology ecosystem
The sourcing industry – BPO, ITO and R&D – is one of Bulgaria’s strongest engines of growth, combining global reach with growing innovation capabilities.
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Total operating revenue in 2024
+7.6% year-on-year, following a strong 2023.
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Full-time employees in sourcing (2024)
0
Companies across BPO, ITO and R&D
Revenue split by segment (2024)
BPO remains the largest segment by revenue, ITO drives scale and diversification, while R&D centres increasingly deliver innovation, product development and AI-intensive projects for global clients.
Global Rankings
Global rankings and regulatory quality
Bulgaria combines favourable regulatory conditions with strong performance in digital sectors, while still offering room for upside in broader competitiveness and institutional quality.
Global Services Location Index
Leading sourcing destination in Southeast Europe, ranking ahead of several larger regional economies.
World Bank B-Ready 2024
Top 10 globally for regulatory framework and public services – signalling predictable rules and improving institutions.
Human Development Index
Very High Human Development with a score above 0.84, placing Bulgaria in the upper half of EU and global peers.
Locations
Key cities for your operations
Bulgaria’s sourcing and technology footprint is concentrated in several dynamic cities – each offering distinct strengths in talent, infrastructure and quality of life.
Plovdiv
• Growing tech and back-office operations
• Strong manufacturing base
• Competitive office and living costs
• Strong manufacturing base
• Competitive office and living costs
Varna
• Access to maritime and logistics talent
• Established BPO and tech presence
• Attractive for international talent
• Established BPO and tech presence
• Attractive for international talent
Burgas
• Growing IT and shared services profile
• Modern infrastructure and education projects
• Strong support from local authorities
• Modern infrastructure and education projects
• Strong support from local authorities
Lifestyle & Quality of Life
A liveable, attractive destination for talent
Four-season nature, vibrant cities and a favourable work–life balance make Bulgaria a compelling choice for both local and foreign professionals.
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Climate index – consistently favourable conditions across the year.
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Minimum 20 paid vacation days plus 11 public holidays per year.
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Direct flight routes from Sofia Airport to European and regional cities.
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Of young Bulgarians see their future in the country.
0%
Take personal responsibility for their professional growth.
0%
Plan to have children – signalling confidence in Bulgaria’s livability.
Testimonials
What global companies say about Bulgaria
International investors in tech, BPO and R&D highlight Bulgaria’s mix of talent, cost efficiency and long-term partnership mindset.
“
Bulgaria gives us access to highly skilled multilingual teams in the heart of the EU, with a culture that combines engineering excellence, agility and strong ownership.
Managing Director, Global Tech Company
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Our Bulgarian hub has evolved from a shared services centre into a strategic innovation partner – driving automation, analytics and AI-enabled transformation for our global operations.
VP Operations, Fortune 500 Enterprise
“
We chose Bulgaria for its strong tech ecosystem, startup scene and supportive community – AIBEST has been an excellent partner throughout our journey.
Founder, AI & Data Company
Next steps
How AIBEST supports your expansion
AIBEST is the voice of Bulgaria’s sourcing and technology sector. We support investors and corporate decision-makers at every step of their journey – from early market scanning to scaling complex operations.
What we offer
- Independent, data-driven guidance on locations, incentives and labour market trends.
- Access to the AIBEST Annual Report and custom insights tailored to your sector.
- Connections with municipalities, business parks, vendors and ecosystem partners.
- Introductions to companies already operating in Bulgaria for peer-to-peer benchmarking.
- Support for investor missions, delegation visits and policy dialogue.
Contact AIBEST
Ready to explore Bulgaria for your next project or expansion? Get in touch with our team and we will follow up with tailored information based on your needs.
Email: info@aibest.org
Web: www.aibest.org
You can also embed a Tilda form here and connect it directly to your CRM or email.
WHY BULGARIA
Your next EU tech & services hub
Bulgaria combines predictable regulation, a stable currency, strong STEM education and a vibrant sourcing ecosystem.
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GDP growth 0%
Corp. tax 0%
ICT GVA 0%
WHY BULGARIA
Data-driven investment choice
A fast-growing ICT and business services economy, outperforming most regional peers on productivity and value added.
Revenue growth (2024) 0%
Companies analysed 0
Employment 0
Sector growth vs EU average
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