Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards, continues to be the lowest in Bulgaria within the entire EU, according to express preliminary data from the official European statistics agency Eurostat. In 2024, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards (PPS), ranges between 66% of the EU average in Bulgaria and 241% in Luxembourg. The information is based on preliminary estimates of purchasing power parities (PPP) and GDP for 2024. In 10 Member States, representing around 34% of the European Union population, the EU average level of GDP per capita is exceeded, with Luxembourg and Ireland having the highest levels (141% and 111% above the EU average, respectively), followed by the Netherlands (35% above the EU average), Denmark (28%) and Belgium (17% above the EU average). The lowest level of GDP per capita is recorded in Bulgaria, which is 34% below the EU average (or 66% of the Union average). Bulgaria is followed by Greece (with 70% of the EU average) and Latvia (with 71% of the EU average). GDP per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards (PPP), nevertheless increases in Bulgaria from 64% of the EU average in 2023 to 66%.

The government has given the National Statistical Institute (NSI) a mandate to negotiate with the European Commission's statistical office Eurostat to change the scope of level 2 regions in Bulgaria, as well as to present to it a version for a new regionalization. The aim is to bring them into line with European requirements for establishing a common classification of territorial units for statistical purposes. According to the version adopted by the government, the new four planning regions include the following areas: 1. The Northern region includes the areas: Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Lovech, Pleven, Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, Ruse, Razgrad and Silistra; 2. The Eastern region: Dobrich, Varna, Shumen, Burgas, Sliven and Yambol; 3. The Southern region: Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil, Blagoevgrad, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Haskovo, Kardzhali; 4. The Capital region includes the Sofia District (Capital Municipality). The change is necessary because the North-West and North-Central regions do not meet Eurostat's requirements for a minimum population size in the regions for statistical purposes - 800,000 people. The change will not affect the administrative-territorial organization of the country.

The National Assembly elected Vasil Golemanski as the new Chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission for the next 6 years. Golemanski was the only candidate for the position nominated by GERB. Golemanski is a long-time executive director of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange and the Central Depository. The current Chairman of the FSC, Boyko Atanasov, has had an expired mandate since 2022.

The system integrator of technological solutions "Siscom Engineering", a system integrator of technological solutions, is building the Smart City concept in two Bulgarian cities. The company has managed to maintain sustainable growth for five years, and it is accelerating. Thus, from 12.2 million leva in revenue in 2020, in 2024 they are already around 43-45 million leva according to preliminary estimates by the management. Since its establishment, in the smart infrastructure sector, the company has also developed the system for the Trakia Motorway, which will automatically identify incidents and redirect traffic, as well as the hourly parking zone in Gabrovo. The company was founded in 2008. At first, it was created under the name "System Communications", and a few years later it was renamed, there was a change of ownership, and today the ultimate owner of the capital of "Siscom Engineering" is Maria Kamburova through the company "Siscom Capital". The company's portfolio is becoming quite broad - from building video surveillance (for example, in prisons), camera systems at train stations, fiber optic cable networks, 5G, and others. In fact, these are also the necessary conditions for building the cities and infrastructure of the future. Autonomous cars and other shared services in cities need new generation networks and 5G. The company is working on several such projects, one of which is for the delivery, installation, and integration of software for protection against cyberattacks of the air traffic control system; Automated system (SCADA) for management and monitoring of special-purpose communication facilities; Design and installation of a centralized video surveillance system for 60 prisons in the country; Delivery, installation, and integration of mobile radio surveillance stations for national coverage, and others. With the development of the activity, the number of employees in the company is also increasing - from 35 to 55 at the end of 2023.

Devin EAD has invested nearly 30 million euros in innovation and modernization of production processes in recent years. In March 2025, the leader in the mineral and spring water market in Bulgaria announced a new investment of over 11 million euros and launched a large-scale project to expand its logistics capacity in the city of Devin. The construction of a fully automated warehouse system has begun - an innovation that will be built for the first time in Bulgaria in the fast-moving goods sector. The new warehouse is expected to be completed in 2026 and aims to increase productivity, improve the quality of customer service and effectively manage warehouse operations. Since 2020, the company has invested nearly 30 million euros, of which 14 million euros are related to the expansion of production capacity through the purchase of three high-speed energy-saving production lines, the last of which in 2025. The new facilities improve sustainable resource management, ensure impeccable product quality and allow the product portfolio to be expanded. The remaining funds have been invested in implementing state-of-the-art innovations and optimizations of key production processes and sustainable practices. Since its establishment in 1992, Devin EAD has been a leader in the mineral and spring water market in Bulgaria. The springs and bottling site are located in an ecologically clean area in the Devin region, in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains, from where the DEVIN brand products come – natural mineral (still, carbonated and enriched with vitamins) and spring water. The company is the exclusive distributor of Red Bull energy drinks and Granini fruit juices for Bulgaria. Since 2017, the company has been part of the Belgian Spadel group – a leading producer of natural water in the Benelux (Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg) and France. Since 2021. Devin EAD is a certified carbon neutral company with validation issued by the international climate consulting organization CO2logic and confirmed by the accredited and independent certification body Vinçotte. Devin EAD is the first Bulgarian bottled water company to achieve carbon neutrality at both the company and product levels. Since March 2022, Devin EAD has been a holder of the prestigious B Corp™ certificate, which distinguishes companies that meet the highest social and environmental standards and make a long-term commitment to positive impact on society.

The Burgas family company "Lamina" is one of the most innovative examples in Bulgaria of successful digitalization and the implementation of artificial intelligence in business. The manufacturer of materials for the furniture industry has its own base of 6,000 sq m in Burgas. Over the past two years, "Lamina" has invested about half a million leva in machines and a completely new showroom in its warehouse on Industrialna Street in the seaside city and already has plans for a new expansion in Burgas. Among the company's main priorities is to modernize the delivery and design processes in the furniture industry. The company offers the entire product portfolio of the wood manufacturer "Kronoshpan Bulgaria". The company's workshop in Burgas produces materials for medium and high-end furniture, and in 2024 the company, which currently employs 23 employees, some of whom have been working here for over 20 years, managed to sell over 40,000 wood-based panels and over 13,000 meters of worktops. From 2016 to today, the company's revenue has increased about fivefold.

Almost two years after being listed on the small and medium-sized enterprise market (BEAM), the honey products company "Melifera" will again seek funds on the market by increasing its capital by 221,320 shares at an issue price of BGN 4.40. The capital increase will occur with rights, with one right being issued for each share of the current 885,282 shares. Possession of four rights will allow the subscription of one share. For the procedure to be successful, at least 110,660 shares will have to be subscribed. At a price of BGN 4.40, this means that "Melifera" is seeking capital of at least BGN 487 thousand. If all shares are subscribed, the company will manage to raise BGN 974 thousand. The company appeared on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange in December 2022, when it managed to raise BGN 1.05 million at the same price at which it will now increase its capital. "Melifera" does not distribute a dividend, as it is still operating at a loss. According to the latest report at the end of 2024, losses were about 263 thousand leva, less than 333 thousand a year earlier. However, it is noticeable that sales have doubled during the year to 377 thousand from 176 thousand in 2023. The main product of "Melifera" is MelliGel, a honey product in small packages with natural additives, which is offered as an energy gel for athletes. In addition, the company produces honey for brands of other companies. There are also plans for another product - a food supplement MelliTonic. The owner and founder of the company is Bilyana Lownds-Nikolova, who holds over two-thirds of the capital personally and through the company "Interminds". Among the shareholders of the company are over 70 individuals and 7 legal entities, including the mutual funds "Kapman Max", "Kapman Capital" and "YUG Market Maximum". The manager of the capital increase procedure is the investment intermediary "Sofia International Securities".

Radiator manufacturer "Corrado-Bulgaria" AD will not distribute a dividend for the second half of 2024. The company has already distributed a dividend for the first half of 2024 in the amount of 0.1 leva per share, or just over 1.3 million leva. The rest of the profit - over 818.2 thousand leva, will be attributed as retained earnings, the company's management suggests. For 2024, "Corrado-Bulgaria" reports a decline in revenue by 11% to just over 35.6 million leva from almost 39.8 million leva for 2023. Net profit decreases by 40% to over 2.1 million leva from almost 3.6 million leva. In terms of sales volume, Corrado-Bulgaria sold 332,887 radiators in 2024, a decrease of 6% compared to 354,301 units in the previous year. Nearly 314,200 radiators were sold within the European Union, with the main customer remaining the parent company in the Czech Republic. One of the most positive trends for the year is the 29% growth in direct sales, mainly thanks to the good performance in Romania (+69%), Ukraine (+23%) and Hungary (+4%), as the company expands into new markets.

In total, the defense spending of the European Union (EU) countries in 2023 amounted to 227 billion euros, according to Eurostat data, which equates to 1.3% of the bloc's total gross domestic product. The amount is also equivalent to 2.7% of total government spending for the year. For comparison, this is a decrease compared to 3% in 1995. However, compared to the previous two years, there is an increase - in 2021 this share is 2.4%, and in 2022 2.5%. In the bloc in 2023, Latvia has the largest share of GDP for defense (3.1%), and Ireland has the smallest (0.2%). Bulgaria reports 1.5%, positioning itself close to the EU average. In the ranking of countries after Latvia, Estonia ranks with 2.7%, Lithuania with 2.5%, Greece with 2.2%, Poland with 2.1%, Cyprus and Hungary with 1.9% each, as well as France, Denmark and Sweden with 1.8% each.

Zhang Yiming, the founder of ByteDance, which owns TikTok, topped the list of the richest people in China, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The 41-year-old businessman's fortune increased by $13.6 billion in 2024 to $57.5 billion at the end of March this year. In second place is the co-founder of the technology company Tencent Holdings Pony Ma (also known as Ma Huateng), whose fortune is $56.6 billion. In third place is the head of the bottled water and soft drinks company Nongfu Spring Zhong Shanshan, who owns $54.1 billion.