The number of residential building construction starts in the first half of 2026 increased by 35% compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the cooling of buyers' interest is noticeable, as in the first half of the year it is expressed in a 17% drop in housing transactions. This is shown by an analysis of the real estate agency "Comfort Brokers". In the first half of the year, the construction of 19,106 homes was started in the country, which is 35% more than the previous year. The largest number of homes started is in Sofia - 4,871 with a total developed area of ​​613,598 sq m. Plovdiv and Burgas follow, respectively, with 3,580 and 3,480 homes started in the first six months. Plovdiv follows with 634 sq m of total area per 1,000 people, and Sofia and Varna have less than 500 sq m of homes started per 1,000 people. Home purchases in Sofia have the highest mortgage participation - in almost 70% of sales. Sales have decreased by 14.7% compared to last year, and this is happening against the background of a 14% increase in the supply of residential properties in the last 6 months. In Plovdiv, mortgages are 46% of the concluded deals, the decline of which is 4.7% in the first six months. In Varna, mortgages reach 54.6% of home sales, which have decreased by 19% in the first half of the year. At the same time, a 6% increase in supply is reported. In Burgas, mortgages are 47.4% of sales. They have decreased by 21.3% compared to last year, while at the same time, offers for residential properties in the region have increased by 16%.

Bulgarian fruit and vegetable production is facing a real risk of complete disappearance due to the lack of effective state policy, unregulated imports from third countries and high markups along the trade chain. This is what the chairman of the National Branch Chamber "Fruit and Vegetables" Tsvetan Tsekov has sounded the alarm about. According to the branch organization, the sector suffers from fundamental defects in the support model and lack of market regulation, which leads to mass bankruptcies and destruction of quality produce. Low wholesale purchase prices do not affect the end consumer. Due to the lack of mechanisms for controlling markups, prices from fields to retail outlets are increasing by hundreds of percent. At the same time, the current system of area support (per decare) is assessed as inadequate to climate and market challenges. The sector's proposal is that subsidies should be paid per kilogram of actually produced and sold quality produce - a practice that aims to stimulate productivity and guarantee affordable prices. The specific proposals have been submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, but so far remain without an official response. Additional pressure on Bulgarian farmers is exerted by the import of cheap produce from third countries, which the industry claims is often treated with plant protection products banned in the EU. With the abolition of land border controls after the country's accession to Schengen, land deliveries of uninspected goods from neighboring countries have increased significantly, undermining local production. The lack of developed cooperatives is also highlighted as a key defect. While in Europe, association provides market power and lower logistics costs, in our country there are no state incentives for the creation of such associations capable of forming large batches for retail chains and exports. To overcome the crisis, the National Branch Chamber "Fruits and Vegetables" insists on the adoption of a Law on the Agri-Food Chain and the creation of a public register for full traceability of goods. A change in the support model towards subsidizing per kilogram produced and the development of a state strategy to encourage association between farmers is required. According to the industry, without immediate institutional intervention and the introduction of clear market rules, domestic fruit and vegetable production faces a permanent collapse.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Bulgarian National Television have officially announced Burgas as the host of the 71st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. The three major concert evenings will be on May 11, 13 and 15, 2027 at the Multifunctional Sports Hall "Arena Burgas" which is state-owned. It is owned and managed by the state-owned company "Akademika 2011" EAD, whose sole owner of the capital is the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Bulgaria. Back in 2014, Burgas Municipality presented the project, at which time the estimated cost was about 38 million leva including VAT. DZZD "Dvorana" was chosen as the contractor. Construction began in 2014, and the hall was actually completed and opened in 2023. At one point, the state investment already reached 57 million leva, with an additional 5 million leva allocated for the equipment. The Municipality of Burgas is also investing in the terrain and the adjacent infrastructure. Arena Burgas is designed as a multifunctional hall with five levels. The main building has a built-up area of ​​about 29,000 sq. m, and the total built-up area of ​​the site, including the multi-storey open-air parking, reaches about 54,000 sq. m. The hall has 4,100 permanent seats and about 2,000 movable seats, which allows the configuration to be changed according to the specific event. During concerts, the capacity can reach 15,000 people. The height of the large hall of Arena Burgas is 35 meters. Arena Burgas can host competitions in athletics, basketball, volleyball, handball, boxing, wrestling, martial arts and rhythmic gymnastics. The complex has a larger training hall and other spaces that can be used for various purposes. "Arena Burgas" has a multi-storey car park, with various sources indicating a capacity of over 800 to about 1,200 cars, depending on how the spaces are used.

The license that allows business operations related to the companies of the Lukoil group in Bulgaria has been extended. The Office for Financial Sanctions Enforcement (OFSI) of the UK Treasury has extended the term until October 29, 2026. With the license, the British side continues to allow business operations with Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD, Lukoil Neftochim Burgas AD, Lukoil Aviation Bulgaria EOOD and Lukoil Bunker Bulgaria EOOD. The extension until October 29 of this year is at the request of the Bulgarian side in order to synchronize the terms with the license from the US side.

The five-star Ensana Aquahouse Hotel in "St. St. Constantine and Elena" is included in the destinations in the most prestigious world travel guide Michelin Guide. With its 411 rooms and apartments, Ensana Aquahouse is also among the largest hotels in Europe included in the Michelin Guide. Located on the seafront, the complex combines five-star comfort with one of the greatest natural resources of "St. St. Constantine and Elena" - natural mineral water. The owner of the building and investor of the five-star hotel complex Ensana Aquahouse Health Spa Hotel (Aquahouse Hotel and SPA) is the company "Borovete I" AD.

Based in the village of Kitanchevo, Razgrad region, the herb processing company Harvesty is implementing a project to increase energy efficiency and introduce energy from renewable sources with European co-financing. The project, with a budget of nearly 105 thousand euros, receives a grant of just over 51 thousand euros under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises (CIE) Program 2021-2027. The remaining invested funds are the company's own participation. The implementation is planned to be finalized in March 2027. In addition to benefits related to energy efficiency, economic benefits are also expected, as well as an overall increase in the sustainability and environmental suitability of the company's business. The project envisages the construction and commissioning of a photovoltaic power plant (PVPP) with an installed capacity of 50 kW for the enterprise's own consumption, as well as additional storage batteries with a capacity of 52.4 kW. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will allow unused energy to be accumulated and utilized later in the day or during peak loads.

The Zagore-Elenino Industrial Zone near Stara Zagora is located on nearly 620 acres. Three plots of land have already been sold, with seven factories planned to be built on one of them alone. Two more new production facilities are to be built on the site of Smart Solar Energy, as well as the company "Pharmnet". There are two more plots of land remaining in the Elenino Industrial Zone, and we are currently in negotiations for both plots and expect investments worth over 500 million euros,” says Radoslav Tanev, Executive Director. In order to respond to the large-scale investor interest, the plans envisage expanding the third stage of the zone onto the plots of the former Stara Zagora airport. With the support of the Just Transition Fund, a critically important new energy infrastructure is being built – a key step in attracting high-tech industries. The zone has already won a Just Transition project to build comprehensive energy communications in Elenino. The project includes the construction of a new substation and transmission of medium voltage infrastructure directly to each of the investors’ plots.

The Oryahovo - Beket ferry complex has not been operating since July 10 due to the extremely low level of the Danube River. The state must intervene to save the livelihoods of people along the Danube. This was stated by the manager of the ferry complex, Veronika Simeonova. Out of 70 staff, only 15 are currently working. The prolonged interruption affects not only the company and its employees, but also a number of local companies that use the ferry connection to transport goods to Romania and the rest of Europe. Among those most seriously affected are agricultural producers. An additional problem is the large amounts of sand deposits in the port area. Simeonova explained that in 2023, a major dredging of the bottom was carried out in order to improve working conditions, but the sandbank continues to increase. Despite the suspension of the ferry, the company continues to clean the port area with its own equipment. The goal is to resume work as quickly as possible in the event of a possible rise in the level of the Danube.

A program worth nearly EUR 1 million provides businesses with the opportunity to raise financing through the capital market. The Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BSMEPA) have launched a joint project to improve access to financing for businesses through the capital market. The project covers 90% of the costs incurred by companies for preparation and listing. The funds are intended to support around 20 companies that will be able to apply within the next 3 years. The program is aimed at companies that plan to raise financing and trade on the BSE regulated market, the BEAM Growth Market, as well as the SpaceCrowd crowdfunding platform. Approved applicants can benefit from covering the costs of consulting, legal and accounting services, through the complete preparation of an initial public offering - preparing a prospectus and a marketing campaign for investors, to paying fees to the Exchange, the Financial Supervision Commission and the Central Depository. Project "Facilitating SMEs' access to equity financing to support their sustainable development and competitiveness by supporting the activities of the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises", funded under the "Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises" program 2021-2027, co-financed by the EU.

A study of publicly announced investments in 11 markets in the region by Emma Hasichevi from Beyond Revenue for the period January 2024 – August 2026 shows a complex picture of the size of capital flows to Southeast Europe. Bulgaria is distinguished by the clearest capital history in the region. The presence of funds of the rank of Founders Fund and Google Ventures in the structure of EnduroSat is a kind of “Silicon Valley stamp of approval” that no other market in Southeast Europe can boast of during this period. The country no longer competes only on the price of software development, but is recognized for its highly specialized engineering competencies in sectors such as NanoSat satellites, drone logistics (Dronamics) and space technologies. The UK is the main source of capital for Romania, driven by funds such as Molten Ventures and OTB Ventures. American companies such as BlackRock are entering at a later stage (Series B+). At the same time, American investors are making more but smaller deals, concentrated in Romanian companies with clear ambitions for the US market. An example of this is the $31 million round for Druid AI in March 2026, in which the local GapMinder participated together with international partners. Serbia reached tech unicorn status in 2026 with Ominimo’s valuation of $1.6 billion. Interestingly, EBRD VC is behind this key deal, not American venture capital. American investors such as SMOK Ventures, Silicon Gardens and Inovo.vc are active mainly at the seed stage with many smaller investments. The larger capital comes from European institutional investors for development. Serbia has a large base of engineering personnel, and many of the strong companies in the country are developing with their own funds, without attracting external financing. In Greece, American investors make the most deals. Funds such as Bessemer, Sera Capital and Paladin Capital are active in cybersecurity and defense-related technologies. The country is attracting investors who view technology as a strategic infrastructure. NATO membership and a geographical location in the Mediterranean create a different investment logic that differs from the standard SaaS model. Slovenia’s most significant capital connection for the period is with France through Lauxera Capital Partners, which invests in capital-intensive sectors such as energy infrastructure and medical diagnostics. Austria’s Speedinvest remains active in smaller software rounds. Croatia presents the most unusual story, as Taiwania Capital from Taiwan leads a €10 million round in the “all eyes on screens” company. At the same time, the country’s ecosystem is maturing, with the founders of Rimac and Photomath already acting as business angels, building an internal investment cycle. Three different capital systems operate simultaneously in Southeastern Europe: Global Capital (US): Funds such as Google Ventures, Founders Fund and BlackRock invest in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. They seek global intellectual property and high-tech companies, not just cheaper labor. European Strategic Capital (UK, Germany, Austria, France): This capital is concentrated in Romania, Slovenia and Croatia, following commercial proximity and industrial ecosystems. Regional and Diaspora Capital: Funds such as LAUNCHub, South Central, Eleven Ventures and diaspora structures are present in all 11 markets. They provide the deal flow that global funds often use as a basis before entering a given market. In the period 2024–2026, foreign investors show clear interest in several key sectors: Space Technologies, Energy Infrastructure, Insurtech (insurance technologies) and Corporate Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The global aviation ecosystem has contributed $4.1 trillion to the global economy since the beginning of 2026, and its contribution is expected to continue to grow until the end of the year, according to a new report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The aviation sector and its related activities provide direct and indirect employment to an estimated 86.5 million people worldwide. Airlines are expected to carry an estimated 5.2 billion passengers this year, and air cargo volume is expected to reach 71.6 million metric tons. About $8 trillion worth of goods are transported by air annually, and aviation accounts for approximately 3.9% of the global economy. Passenger air traffic grew by 5.7% in 2025 compared to the previous year. The report also states that aviation remains one of the safest modes of transport. At the same time, even a single serious incident among the estimated 40 million flights annually can have an impact on global safety performance. Despite continued growth, the industry faces a number of challenges. These include geopolitical conflicts, supply chain disruptions, delays in the delivery of new aircraft and the need to significantly increase the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). To achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, the aviation sector will need about 500 million metric tons of sustainable aviation fuel annually. The report also ranks the largest markets according to aviation’s contribution to the national economy. The United States is in first place with a $1.3 trillion contribution to gross domestic product. China is in second place with $253.6 billion, followed by Spain with $172.9 billion. The top ten also includes Great Britain – $160.7 billion, France – $144.7 billion, Germany – $142.7 billion, Japan – $116.4 billion, Italy – $103.6 billion, the United Arab Emirates – $92 billion, and Saudi Arabia – $90.6 billion.

Central banks in emerging Asia are increasingly finding ways to prop up their currencies without tapping foreign exchange reserves, as tensions in the Middle East and the prospect of longer-term higher U.S. interest rates keep central bankers on edge. India has attracted nearly $40 billion from its diaspora through high-yielding dollar deposits, underpinning the rupee’s recovery from a record low in May, Bloomberg reported. South Korea’s push to speed up the repatriation of corporate dollars helped the won post its biggest monthly gain since 2022. Indonesia has raised $1.6 billion from bonds in the past two months as it offered incentives to foreign funds. Taiwan has instructed exporters to sell U.S. dollars in times of currency weakness. The measures broaden central bankers’ toolbox and complement traditional tools such as raising interest rates and currency intervention. Traditional instruments have been the first line of defense after the Middle East conflict pushed up oil prices. The surge in oil and fuel prices has exposed the heavy dependence of developing Asian countries on energy imports, making the region one of the weakest in the currency market. The Indonesian rupiah, Indian rupee and Thai baht are among the five worst performers this year in a basket of 22 emerging market currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Meanwhile, Latin American currencies top the list, led by the Colombian peso, Brazilian real and Mexican peso. The region offers higher interest rates than most developing countries, and many of its countries are oil exporters, making them relatively insulated from the impact of higher oil prices. In Japan, Asia’s largest developed market, policymakers appear increasingly inclined to intervene in the currency market. The first joint yen-buying operation by Japan and the United States since 1998 recently helped fuel one of the currency’s most remarkable recoveries. Of course, central banks in emerging Asia are not abandoning traditional defenses. Bank Indonesia raised interest rates by 100 basis points in May and June and has continued to intervene in the foreign exchange market, as has India’s central bank. Indonesia and India, along with the Philippines and Thailand, have seen the biggest declines in foreign exchange reserves in Asia since the Iran war, with declines ranging from 4% to 9%. Authorities in the Philippines raised interest rates by 50 basis points, and South Korea’s central bank tightened policy last month for the first time in three years. MUFG Bank Ltd. forecasts two more hikes in Indonesia and the Philippines and at least one more hike in South Korea this year.