This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 9/19/2019

Overview
Bulgaria, with an external EU border, hopes to join the Schengen area before 2020. This is one of the reasons why safety and security remains an important issue for the Bulgarian government and businesses in 2019, and into the future. The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior together with the Ministry of Finance, the Customs Agency, and the Border Police are looking for ways to improve and strengthen management of external borders.

The EC provided Bulgaria nearly USD 107 million on an already allotted USD 57 million of emergency assistance for migrant and border management under the EU’s national programs for the period 2014-2020. Like other EU countries, in order to control illegal immigration and protect its EU external borders, Bulgaria has completed the process of building a fence along the border with Turkey. The project, which amounts to approximately USD 100 million, is of crucial importance for both Bulgarian and European security. The entire length of the border is around 240 km.

One of the EU Presidency agenda items that Bulgaria addressed was preventing illegal migration, terrorism, cybersecurity, organized crimes, terrorism, trafficking of people, drugs, and money laundering and natural disasters.

Since 2017, US Embassy Sofia has had a Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection agent in Sofia working closely with Bulgarian Border Police structures. They are focusing on optimizing the border checking process and providing high level intelligence in corporation with Interpol, FBI and Bulgarian authorities.

In 2018, 138 new all-terrain specialized vehicles, worth USD 7 million (VAT included) were purchased for the Bulgarian Border Police and funded by the European Union's Internal Security Fund. The vehicles will allow the Border Police to engage with joint operations with Ministry of Inferior on the local level, as well as on the international level with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. Most vehicles have equipment for the transportation of police dogs, and they will be used for border surveillance. 

Europe, and more specifically Bulgaria, is a key target for cyber crime because of its advanced Internet infrastructure, high number of users, and payment systems. Bulgaria has signed a memorandum of understanding with NATO in reference to fostering international collaboration on counter cyber threats through information- and capability-sharing, as well as joint participation in cyber exercises. The legal framework, put into effect in July 2016, has been harmonized with EU legislation and provides numerous opportunities for foreign companies to invest in the country.

The Bulgarian government adopted a National Strategy for Cyber security called “Cyber Resilient Bulgaria 2020.” This strategy aims to provide better protection for citizens, businesses, governments and critical infrastructure. Cyber security is crucial for businesses, citizens and the government given the adoption of the E-Governance law and future implementation of e-services.
 

Opportunities


Current safety & security projects and opportunities include, but are not limited to, improvement and upgrade of public safety and traffic safety, timely response to disasters, and the introduction of intelligent transport systems management.

Public Safety
Most large and middle-sized cities in Bulgaria now have a video surveillance system with more than 2,000 cameras in the whole country monitoring pedestrian areas, major crossings, and traffic safety. In general, the central areas in these cities are the most monitored zones, but sensitive zones, including for traffic safety and public safety will also be included in the future and will include all police vehicles being equipped with built-in video surveillance.

Improving IT security is a top investment priority for Bulgarian financial institutions. Some 67 percent of Bulgarian banks and insurance companies plan to increase their spending on security technology next year followed by an investment in automating key customer services.

Reports show that 99.9 percent of cyber-attacks in the country are due to a company’s poor information security. In response to increases in cyber threats, the Bulgarian government, with the support of the EC, will spend 8 million euros for fighting Botnet and will spend 1 million e for regulations of cyber threats.
Traffic Safety
Bulgaria is the EU country with the most traffic incidents. To stem this the traffic police will: 
  • Update its speed cameras with new modern ones.
  • Acquire new generation laser speed cameras in approximately 30 cities which can check the speed of more than one vehicle at the same time and provide images processed by 4G computers to include fines generated and sent directly via mail.
  • Purchase an additional 20 stationary speed radars costing USD 1.5 million
  • Acquire 28 portable cameras costing USD 1.147 million.
  • Acquire 100 new alcohol and drug testing apparatus costing USD 1.260 million.

Security Companies
The Industrial Cluster “Security” in Bulgaria announced an updated list with all existing security companies. According to the data, there are currently 2867 companies licensed to carry out private security services – 1,000 have a national license and the remaining 1867 have regional licenses. These companies employ around 130,000 Bulgarians in the security sector. Most of them are small and medium-sized companies and do not directly acquire security equipment but provide centralized security services by means of technical equipment via monitoring-centers and vehicle patrols, physical security, convoy of valuables and dangerous loads; delivery, installation and support of security systems.

NAFTSO (National Association of Industrial Security Companies) is a non-profit association of Bulgarian security companies. NAFSTO members employ over 22,400 people (37.1 percent of private security employees) with USD 406.4 million in revenues for 2015, or 39 percent of the market. The number of guarded and secured sites exceeds 187,000 secured by centralized security systems and of which over 4,316 include guards.

Local production of security equipment is limited to parts and accessories for telephones and installations, metal detectors, safe deposit boxes, intercoms, sirens, control panels, control alarm systems, electronic locking systems for elevators; electronic locking systems for external doors inputs, TV systems for day/night surveillance, systems for perimeter and outside perimeter guarding, cameras and lenses, communication cables, fire detectors, equipment and parts for access control, signaling devices and production of protective clothing with special purpose – fireproof, antistatic, water and oil-proof, wind-proof and aggressive- proof.
 

Leading Sub-sectors

To join the Schengen Area, the Bulgarian government must develop projects to upgrade its EU’s external borders and to integrate into the Schengen Information System (SIS).

Best prospects include:
X-ray scanning equipment, MR type of equipment, infrared mobile and stationary equipment, IP video surveillance, on site field testing, access control equipment, CCTV, laboratory equipment, ID security application equipment, new IT and high tech equipment, programs and related services.
 

Trade Events


September 26-29, 2019  Inter Expo Center, Sofia, Bulgaria 
http://iec.bg/index.php/en/other Nasluka – Hunting Fishing Sports Exhibition
Exhibit sectors include: Hunting arms, ammunition, hunting outfits, fishing tackles, boats, accessories, sport equipment.

March, 2020 Inter Expo Center, Sofia, Bulgaria
http://securityexpo.bg/index.php/en/ 26th International Specialized Exhibition SECURITY EXPO 2019
SECURITY EXPO provides an excellent opportunity for Bulgarian and international manufacturers and distributors of security equipment to take advantage of this market potential. 

April, 2021  Split, Croatia 
http://adriaticseadefense.com/exhibitors/asda-2019/
Adriatic Sea Defense & Aerospace (ASDA) Exhibition Split, Croatia

May 27-30, 2020  International Fair Plovdiv, Bulgaria 
http://www.hemusbg.org/en Hemus Defense Antiterrorism and Security

May 20-22, 2020  ROMAERO S.A., Bucharest, Romania 
http://bsda.ro/en/ Black Sea Defense & Aerospace Exhibition - BSDA 2020
BSDA is the International tri-service defense Exhibition and Conference dedicated to Defense, Aerospace, Homeland Security, Cyber Security and, Safety & Security.

Web Resources
Ministry of Finance, State Agency Customs – www.customs.bg
Ministry of Interior –  www.mvr.bg
   -Customs: http://www.customs.bg/en/
     -Border Police:  https://www.mvr.bg/gdgp
Ministry of Transportation – www.mtitc.government.bg
Bulgarreklama Agency – www.iec.bg
Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce – www.bcci.bg/fairs/security
Cyber Crime Academy – www.cybercrimeacademy.org
Cyber Crime Awareness website - http://www.cybercrime.bg/bg 

 

U.S. Commercial Service Sofia Contact Information:

Name:              Peter Delin
Position:           Commercial Specialist
Email:               peter.delin@trade.gov
Phone:              +359-2-939-5784

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.