Bulgaria Was One of Europe’s Fastest Growing Apparel Producers in 2006

Bulgaria was one of Europe’s fastest growing apparel producers in 2006. However, most of the textile and apparel sector is in need of investment. There are a handful of modern manufacturers, many of whom are owned by foreign companies. But the vast majority of companies are small to medium sized enterprises which are already operating at full capacity. These firms face a number of obstacles to growth, most notably a lack of added value and a limited supply of short-term finance. Now that Bulgaria is a member of the EU, the industry faces a number of opportunities for development, spurred by: easier access to the EU, its largest export market; harmonised legislation with the EU; improved opportunities for training and networking; a fixed exchange rate against the euro; reductions in the grey economy, in working practices and in corruption; better availability of short-term finance for capacity expansion and modernisation of technology; improved attractiveness to potential investors; an increase in the number of jobs; and higher labour productivity.