OECD sees Bulgaria’s economic growth slowing in 2023, rebounding in 2024
Bulgaria’s GDP growth is projected to slow to 1.7 per cent in 2023 before rebounding to 3.1 per cent in 2024, supported by investments from EU funds, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in its Economic Outlook 2022 Issue 2.
Exports will be adversely affected by the deteriorating macroeconomic situation in Europe, while high energy prices and rising interest rates will weigh on consumption, the OECD said.
The report said that inflation would slowly decline amid stabilising energy prices and subdued economic activity.
“Energy supply is secured thanks to low dependence on gas, a new pipeline, and a position as a net exporter of electricity,” the OECD said.
It said that Bulgaria “is assumed to enter the euro area at the start of 2024”.
Effective management and roll-out of EU funds is required to support activity and to return to the pre-crisis convergence path towards OECD-average per capita incomes, the report said.
Support packages, including price caps on electricity along with VAT and excise tax reductions on gas, have shielded consumers and businesses from rising energy prices, but the measures should be better targeted and designed to preserve incentives for energy savings, it said.
Investments in renewable energy need to be encouraged as they would help to align efforts to decarbonise the economy and address energy security concerns, the OECD said.
(Photo: Interior Ministry press centre)
Please support The Sofia Globe’s independent journalism by clicking on the orange button below. For as little as three euro a month or the equivalent in other currencies, you can support The Sofia Globe via patreon.com.
