Bulgaria’s automotive investment volume exceeded €102m last year, creating 3,200 new jobs within the sector, according to Deputy Economic Minister Lilia Ivanova. “We expect the positive development trend to continue this year, given that eight new projects of potential investors in the sector are currently underway,” Ivanova said.There are currently 220 companies operating in Bulgaria that have more than 50,000 employees manufacturing components for the world’s leading carmakers. Italy is one of Bulgaria’s primary trading partners, with some €5bn in trade deals reported between the two countries in 2018, according to Ivanova.