On February 2, 2026, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Elevate, Ivaylo Slavov, took part in an interview on Business Start, the morning program of Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, where he commented on the attraction and employment of workforce from third countries, the economic environment in Bulgaria, and Europe’s prospects in the context of the New Global Order. Ivaylo Slavov has been actively involved in economic relations between Bulgaria and Germany for many years and is a Board member of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GBCIC). During the interview, he outlined the necessary steps to improve the business climate in Bulgaria.

1. Attracting workforce from third countries

One of the main topics of the discussion was the attraction and employment of workforce from third countries. Currently, more than 120,000 non-EU nationals are working in Bulgaria, marking significant progress over recent years – from approximately 10,000 to today’s levels. The main countries from which Bulgaria attracts workers include India, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Moldova, while there is also untapped potential in Vietnam. The key challenges remain the integration of these workers and the heavy administrative procedures involved. According to Slavov, it is necessary to optimize legislation and administrative timelines in order to accelerate the process.

2. Automation, robotics, and the role of Artificial Intelligence

Ivaylo Slavov confirmed that businesses are actively investing in automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence, particularly in skilled activities. Nevertheless, the pace at which the demand for labor is growing remains significantly higher than the pace of technological substitution.

3. Business in the new global order and the future of Europe

Towards the end of the interview, the discussion turned to the World Economic Forum in Davos and the changes in the global economic and geopolitical landscape. According to Ivaylo Slavov, Europe has a real opportunity to regroup and begin thinking as an independent market.

“The entire world and the global order have changed. Europe must respond decisively in order to remain competitive,” Ivaylo Slavov concluded.

You can watch the full interview on the Bloomberg TV Bulgaria’s official website here.