The Bulgarian state and the German technology concern Rheinmetall will announce the start of the project to build a gunpowder and ammunition plant tomorrow at an official ceremony at the Council of Ministers. The project is of strategic importance not only for Bulgaria, but also for the whole of Europe. The investment of nearly 1 billion leva is among the most significant in recent years and is a key step for the modernization of the Bulgarian defense industry. It is also part of the efforts of the European Union and NATO to strengthen the defense capabilities and strategic autonomy of Europe in the context of the changed geopolitical environment.
Economic growth, development of production facilities of the latest generation and nearly 1,000 new highly qualified jobs are just some of the benefits for Bulgaria from the implementation of the project. With the construction of the plant, our country will restore a key element of its defense capacity and strengthen its positions in the European defense industry. The innovative plant for the production of gunpowder and 155-mm artillery shells and modular charging systems will be implemented through a joint venture between Rheinmetall and VMZ-Sopot.
The contract will be personally signed by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Paperger and the director of the "Weapons and Ammunition" department of the concern Roman Köhne. On the Bulgarian side, the contract will be signed by the Executive Director of VMZ, Ivan Getsov. The ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov.