Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria's membership in OECD still under question

OECD: The pandemic has interrupted an impressive progress of Bulgarian economy

Photo: oecd.org

The Covid-19 outbreak abruptly stopped several years of robust economic growth in Bulgaria, reads the second economic survey of Bulgaria of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), BNR reported. The survey was presented today in an online meeting with the participation of Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria

The document reveals that there is rising inequality and persistently high poverty in the country, with a widening gap between poor and rich people in Bulgaria. The need for a better business environment and clearer administrative regulations is pointed out. Efforts to fight corruption and crime must continue, the survey reads.


The issue of minorities is also being addressed in the document, saying that 1/10 of Bulgaria's population is of Roma origin, but lives in socially excluded neighborhoods. The need for reforms in education is also emphasized.

The OECD expects that Bulgarian economy will grow by 3.3% in 2021, unemployment will remain above 6%, inflation will amount to 1.4%. A budget deficit of 4.5% of GDP is forecasted.

There is still no consensus on Bulgaria's application for membership in the organization, Gurria said.

More on the survey can be read HERE.


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Jesus Caballero grabs Manager of the Year Award for 2024

If the political crisis continues, the lost benefits will reach a threshold after which the Bulgarian business will begin to lose competitiveness due to growing deficits in education, healthcare, infrastructure, regional development and demographics...

published on 11/5/24 9:54 AM

The Institute for Market Economics calls for budget deficit below 3%

We are moving towards the option of not having a quickly adopted budget for 2025, Lachezar Bogdanov, chief economist from the Institute for Market Economics, told BNR.  In presenting the institute's alternative state budget, the..

published on 11/4/24 11:27 AM

The five largest Indian IT companies already have offices in Bulgaria

Bulgaria and India will intensify their cooperation in various sectors of mutual interest. This was discussed at a meeting of the Bulgarian Minister of Economy Petko Nikolov with Ambassador of India to Bulgaria H.E. Sanjay Rana. The two focused..

published on 10/31/24 5:48 PM