19 Nov 2025
The Minister of Innovation and Growth, Assoc. Prof. Rosen Karadimov, presented a certificate for a priority investment project – “Solar Panel and Cell Manufacturing Plant” – to Smart Solar Technologies AD.
“The company’s investment amounts to BGN 240 million, with 812 new jobs planned. We have secured state support under the Investment Promotion Act for this significant investment in the Stara Zagora region,” said Minister Karadimov.
The ceremony at the Ministry was attended by Deputy Ministers Krasimir Yakimov and Veselina Mincheva, the Ambassador of Turkey, Mehmet Uyanık, the main shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Smart Solar Technologies AD, Halil Demirdag, company management, as well as the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, Mila Nenova, and the Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the Bulgarian Development Bank, Deliana Ivanova.
The new plant will be built in Elenino village, Stara Zagora municipality, within the “Zagore Industrial Zone.” Minister Karadimov emphasized: “Together with 10 other industrial parks across the country, it is financed with a non-repayable BGN 14 million under the Ministry of Innovation and Growth’s procedure within the Recovery and Resilience Plan.”
The Stara Zagora plant will host two separate high-tech production lines. The investment project includes construction of production facilities and administrative buildings. All buildings are planned to be energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and with zero carbon footprint during production. The products are expected to be sold primarily in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy.
Ambassador Mehmet Uyanık thanked the government and the Ministry of Innovation and Growth for their support in implementing Smart Solar Technologies AD’s investment. “This investment is a source of pride for us, as it has not only economic but also significant social impact for the Stara Zagora region. It sets a positive example for Turkish companies, and we will continue encouraging Turkish businesses to invest in Bulgaria,” said Ambassador Uyanık.
Smart Solar Technologies AD is a joint-stock company, majority-owned by Smart Güneş Enerjisi Teknolojileri Geliştirme Üretim Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, Turkey. The main shareholder has long-standing experience in manufacturing solar panels and cells, as well as developing solar parks in Turkey and over 27 European countries. The company is one of the largest solar panel suppliers in Europe.
