The Bulgarian maritime sector, branded as Blue Bulgaria, is a cornerstone of the nation's economy. It encompasses shipowners, shipyards, ship designers, suppliers, and a variety of service providers. The industry directly or indirectly employs about 93,000 people, contributing significantly through maritime transport, coastal tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture. Bulgarian shipowners also play a pivotal role in global maritime trade, further supporting the national economy.
The Bulgarian Government has ambitious plans for the sector: modernizing port infrastructure, embracing green maritime technologies, prioritizing digitalization, and developing autonomous solutions, with the goal of establishing Bulgaria as a key global player.
The maritime industry faces challenges and opportunities alike in 2025. Regulatory changes, geopolitical risks, and technological advancements are reshaping the landscape. Key trends such as collaboration, sustainability, and resilience will play a decisive role in shaping the future of global maritime trade. These trends also present excellent opportunities for Finnish companies seeking new partnerships and business ventures in Bulgaria.
This webinar aims to provide an insightful overview of the Bulgarian maritime industry and to outline the opportunities available at the upcoming Finnish–Bulgarian Maritime Business Forum, which is scheduled to take place on-site in Varna, Bulgaria, on October 15–16th, 2025.
Key Topics
This Bulgarian maritime market update will be covering:
- Current maritime and shipbuilding market situation, trends
- How to gain access to the Bulgarian shipbuilding market?
- Relevant events and activities 2025-2026
- Overview of the main segments of the Bulgarian maritime industry, and a snapshot of the main companies of interest:
- Ship owners
- Shipyards
- Ports infrastructure
- Associations
Preliminary Program
- 10:00 - 10:05 Welcome and introduction to the Webinar program, Mr. Alexander Markov, Senior Advisor, Business Finland
- 10:05 - 10:15 Opening Remarks by Ms. Kirsi Pohjankukka, Ambassador of Finland to Bulgaria
- 10:15 - 10:45 Presentation: Bulgaria Maritime Business Update by Mr. Alexander Markov, Senior Advisor, Business Finland
- 10:45 – 10:50 Invitation to the Finnish – Bulgarian Business Forum
- 10:50 - 11:00 Q/A
Moderated by Alexander Markov, Senior Advisor, Business Finland, Warsaw
Who should attend?
This event is tailored for Finnish companies operating in the maritime and shipbuilding industries who are interested in exploring business opportunities in the Bulgarian market. Business Finland is also planning to arrange a business delegation to Bulgaria in October, and you will hear about the plans in the webinar.
We look forward to your participation in this timely discussion and to supporting your expansion into Bulgaria.
