BDR: Professionalism and transparency are key to managing the state bank

The management of the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDR) must be based on expertise, transparency, and objective rules for personnel selection. This was stated by the bank's Executive Director, Tsanko Arabadzhiev, in an interview with Bulgarian National Radio.

According to Arabadzhiev, the institution's financial results are the best proof of its independence and professional management. He emphasized that BDR plays a critical role in implementing state economic policies, citing the successful preservation of 280 million euros from the Recovery and Resilience Plan for the energy efficiency of residential buildings as an example.

Thanks to the bank's transformation, it is the only financial institution in Bulgaria accredited to manage funds from the European budget. This allowed the country to avoid the risk of losing these important resources following negotiations with the European Commission.

In the future, BDR plans to expand its role through support for public-private partnerships and participation in strategic infrastructure projects. Arabadzhiev proposed the idea of creating a National Investment Fund under the management of BDR, which could attract significant private capital for road, energy, and social infrastructure.

The Executive Director added that BDR does not seek to compete directly with commercial banks, but rather to complement the market. The main goal is to ensure access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and innovative projects that often remain outside the focus of standard lending.