The military aircraft company Eurocopter, part of EADS, is planning to invest EUR 100mn in production of military communication equipment together with the local Samel-90, according to Nikolay Gigov, the local corporate consultant for Eurocopter. Samel-90 is located in the south-western town of Samokov and is specialised in production of communication equipment for more than 40 years, 80% of which is exported to EU members. Part of Samel-90’s produce is for civil purposes. The planned investment is part of the indirect offset under the contract with Eurocopter for helicopters supply for the Bulgarian army. The investment is planned to expand and modernise the plant in Samokov so as to meet the criteria for tender bidding and implementation of special orders.

Kornelia Ninova, deputy economy minister, stated that the government will support offset investments only in economic sectors, in which imports have a big share. This measure is designed to narrow the foreign trade gap.