< span>The leading company in the global defense industry and manufacturer of armored vehicles International Armored Group (IAG), owned by the Bulgarian entrepreneur Dr. Anton Stefov, opened its first Bulgarian plant in Burgas.
„Two years ago, when I announced that I would invest in Bulgaria, there were people who tried to dissuade me, but I did not listen to them. Now, I can proudly state that we built our first Bulgarian plant in Burgas ahead of schedule, in just a year.
This is the beginning of a production process that will produce different types of combat vehicles – for the infantry, for the army, for the police and for the fire protection, meeting the highest standards of NATO – STANEG 1, 2, 3 and 4.
All our developments will be produced here as well. The future of defense technology is in robotics and artificial intelligence. I hope that we will work together with the educational institutions and universities in the city. This plant will place our country among the world's best producers of defense equipment. I thank the mayor of Burgas and everyone who helped in this process, said the owner of the company, Dr. Anton Stefov.
The importance of the investment in Burgas and the region was also noted by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Rumen Radev, who was also a guest at the event.
„This event is particularly important for the Bulgarian economy, for national security and for the development of Burgas and the region. I thank Mr. Stefov for the decision to build this enterprise that has gained international prestige. Their production is of guaranteed quality, a certificate for the good investment climate in Bulgaria, and it is no coincidence that this plant is being built in Burgas.
This shows the huge strategic potential of the city and the region – international airport, port and AM “Thrace“, but above all the potential of the people and the ambition of the city leadership to create education and high-tech industries.
We have to give credit to Mr. Dimitar Nikolov and his team, because they showed how to work in sync with a high-tech investor,” said the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev.
The production base is located on an area of 150,000 square meters in the industrial zone of Burgas. In 2023, IAG was certified as a class A investor, and the state and the Municipality of Burgas built the technical and supply infrastructure.
„Here we are at the end of an administrative procedure, an investment that required full synchronicity between a motivated investor, his team and a large number of municipal and state officials united in the idea of creating an economic enterprise that would create a product, business and prosperity for the city and Bulgaria. In addition to the enterprise, we have built the leading and accompanying infrastructure, which is the beginning of a new industrial zone, and very soon many other companies will arise in the vacant lands around the enterprise, which will create jobs and develop the region.
This partnership does not end now, but we will work on creating dual classes in technological schools and universities in Burgas. I hope, in addition to jobs, this will stimulate the development of science, innovation and technology in the city," said Dimitar Nikolov.
After the official ceremony, the guests viewed some of the IAG armored vehicles that will be produced at the Burgas plant, as well as a demonstration of high-tech drones for surveillance, intelligence, fire protection, etc.
The event was attended by the First Lady of the Republic of Bulgaria Mrs. Desislava Radeva, Prof. Maria Neikova - regional governor of Burgas, generals from the Bulgarian army and foreign officers.
The preparation of the project for the opening of the first IAG plant in Bulgaria started already at the beginning of 2022. The initial investment of the company exceeds BGN 20 million, and about 50 new Bulgarian specialists will start the future production, and in the course of the work it is expected that they will become at least 300.
IAG's newest production base in Burgas will produce various types of armored vehicles for global markets, as well as drones for rescue, reconnaissance and emergency teams, in collaboration with IAG's Bulgarian partners. Military evacuation cranes and light patrol cars will also be in series production, as in other IAG plants around the world. The development of wheeled and tracked robots is in the project, and in the process of engineering calculations - armored platforms carrying light artillery systems.
More about International Armored Group:
IAG is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturers of fully protected armored vehicles in the world, with over 1,000 employees on five continents.
IAG currently has plants in the USA, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey. IAG provides armored vehicles for state level organizations including the UN, NATO, Bundeswehr and others. IAG was also selected by Space X with its Sentinel ARV armored vehicle to escort the astronauts to the launch pads.
IAG vehicles and ambulances are used for peacekeeping missions, for personal protection, for banking, for the oil industry in various parts of the world. Over 140 IAG models cover segments such as tactical vehicles, armored personnel carriers, riot control vehicles, valuables transport vehicles, ambulances, armored vehicles and luxury sedans. The technology of IAG Smartarmor™ provides proven protection against a wide range of ballistic and explosive attacks. From 2021, IAG is also conducting tests for the certification of armored cars according to NATO standards in Bulgaria – STANAG 4569 after obtaining consent from TNO International Laboratory in the Netherlands to jointly perform some of the tests here. They are held at the “Central Artillery Range – MO“, near the village of Serpentine.