ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

As of 2024, 3,378 non-financial enterprises operate in Vidin region, of which 77.4% have made a profit, which indicates relative economic sustainability. In the same year, a net turnover of 1.45 billion BGN was reported, production for 981.9 million BGN and added value of 344.1 million BGN.

Micro enterprises have the dominant share, representing 94.6%.

Foreign direct investments in non-financial enterprises as of 31.12.2024 amounted to 43,0800 (thousand euros), and Expenditures for acquisition of fixed assets were 140,764 thousand BGN.

Leading economic activities are:

• Trade, repair of cars and motorcycles;
• Transport and logistics;
• Manufacturing;
• Agriculture;
• Construction and energy.

Vidin region has significant infrastructural and logistical advantages. Two trans-European transport corridors (No. 4 and No. 9) pass through its territory, providing connectivity to key European markets. Three border checkpoints are in operation (2 with the Republic of Serbia and 1 with the Republic of Romania), which strengthens the role of the region as a logistics and trade center..

The region has:

· access to the Danube river and river port;

· Danube bridge 2;

· railway and road infrastructure.

The Port of Vidin is located on the territory of the region - the first major Bulgarian port along the Danube river, included in the list of public transport ports of national importance. It consists of the terminals Vidin-North, Vidin-Center and Vidin-South and provides a connection between river, rail and road transport.

The Vidin - Botevgrad expressway is under construction, which will improve connectivity with the capital and the interior of the country and will increase the investment attractiveness of the region.

Additional potential for the development of transport and logistics connectivity is the presence of Vidin airport, for which there are opportunities for restoration of activity.

The following operate on the territory of the region:

• Vidin industrial park with a total area of: 308,627 sq. m. (including: Warehouses and halls: 5,503 sq. m.; Open warehouse areas: 2,300 sq. m.; Greenfield investment land: 202,000 sq. m.; Offices: 312 sq. m.);
• Vidin south industrial park with an area of ​​over 600,000 sq. m., under construction and modernization under a project financed under the Recovery and resilience mechanism, including road, electricity and water supply infrastructure.

The region also has a significant natural resource - highly mineralized thermal waters in the Vidin - Slanotran - Koshava section, which provide opportunities for:

• development of balneology and health tourism;
• use in energy (geothermal energy);
• application in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

The presence of a strategic location, transport connectivity, industrial infrastructure and natural resources creates a favorable environment for attracting investments, developing industrial activities and value-added services.

Innovation opportunities in the region are poorly represented, while at the same time there is a:

• high level of digital connectivity (92.4% internet access);
• presence of separate initiatives in the field of ICT.

GIPS AD

https://gips-ad.com

The mine near the village of Koshava is the only underground gypsum deposit in Southeastern Europe. The gypsum extracted in the enterprise is a 100% natural product and its purity reaches 95% (when extracted from open-pit gypsum mines it is up to 50%). GIPS AD is a major supplier of raw materials in the cement industry and in the production of gypsum binders and aerated concrete products. Since 2006, over 22 million BGN have been invested in the reconstruction, modernization and updating of the technological process with the purchase of a complex for mechanized underground extraction of natural gypsum, the construction of two new production lines for the production of dry building mixtures on a gypsum and cement basis, a sand drying and separation installation and a complex installation for calcining natural gypsum.

In October 2012, a new plant of "GIPS" AD was opened in the village of Koshava. This is the first plant in Bulgaria with a complex installation for calcining natural gypsum. The project was approved under the Operational program "Development of the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy" 2007-2013. The equipment of the new installation has a capacity of 80 thousand tons per year. The supplier of the equipment is "Claudius Peters Projects".

Currently, GIPS AD produces 23 dry construction mix products - 13 gypsum-based and 10 cement-based products, a thermal insulation system and primers.

The company owns the only accredited laboratory in the country for the testing of gypsum and gypsum derivatives and is certified according to ISO 9001-2008 SGS.

"LB BULGARICUM”

https://lbbulgaricum.bg

"LB Bulgaricum" EAD is the only state-owned enterprise in the dairy sector in Bulgaria and a symbol of the tradition in the production of authentic Bulgarian dairy products and starter cultures. The company is the successor to many years of scientific and production activity related to the development and popularization of Bulgarian yogurt and the bacterium Lactobacillus bulgaricus worldwide.

The company operates in the field of production and trade in dairy products, probiotic foods and starter cultures for home and industrial use. "LB Bulgaricum" also provides know-how, technologies and licenses for the production of original Bulgarian dairy products abroad.

The company has two production bases - in the town of Vidin and the city of Sofia, as well as its own research center and one of the richest collections of lactic acid bacteria in Bulgaria.

The production base in Vidin is among the key enterprises in the food industry of the region. In recent years, investments have been made in modernization, automation and environmental technologies aimed at sustainable production and high quality of products.

"LB Bulgaricum" EAD owns significant intellectual property in the field of dairy industry, including patents, trademarks and protected designations of origin registered in Bulgaria and abroad

"MAGURA” AD

https://magurawinery.bg/

Magura Winery was established in 1967 in the village of Rabisha, Belogradchik municipality, and is among the established producers of wines and natural sparkling wines in Bulgaria. The winery combines traditions in winemaking with modern technologies and contemporary quality standards.

A unique feature of the winery is the use of part of the Magura cave - the Bat’s gallery, as a natural place for aging wines and sparkling wines. The constant temperature of about 12°C, natural humidity and lack of light create excellent conditions for natural maturation and champagne production using classical technology.

The favorable soil and climatic conditions in the area of ​​Rabisha and Rabishta mound bring the terroir closer to that of the french Champagne region, which makes the region particularly suitable for the production of high-quality sparkling wines, as well as red and white varietal wines.

Magura winery produces a wide range of still and sparkling wines, as well as brandies, using both traditional Bulgarian varieties and internationally recognized wine varieties. Since 2008, the company has also been developing its own vineyard areas in the villages of Rabisha and Rayanovtsi with varieties such as Gamza, Vrachanski Misket, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Riesling and others.

The winery's production has won numerous awards and medals from prestigious international wine competitions, including AWC Vienna, Decanter World Wine Awards and Balkan International Wine Competition.

Magura winery is an important part of the economic and tourist image of the region, contributing to the popularization of wine tourism and the traditions of Northwestern Bulgaria

''NOVO SELO" WINERY

https://vinarnanovoselo.bg

“Novo selo” winery is among the established wine producers in Northwestern Bulgaria. Built in the period 1939 – 1946 with the voluntary labor of the residents of the village of Novo selo, the winery is a symbol of local traditions in viticulture and winemaking.

The philosophy of the winery is related to the preservation, development and popularization of the Gamza variety, traditional for the region, as well as the production of original and quality wines from it. With its exceptional potential, this emblematic variety has the opportunity not only to regain its former glory in Bulgaria, but also to establish its presence on international markets.

Along with Gamza, the winery produces high-quality red, white and rosé wines from varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Rkatsiteli.

The “Novo selo” winery has its own vineyard with an area of ​​over 700 acres, located in the Danube Plain region. The favorable climate, fertile soils and proximity to the Danube River create excellent conditions for the development of modern and sustainable viticulture.

Since 2018, the winery has been owned by “BEN HUN AGRO” OOD, and in recent years investments have been made in the modernization of the production base and renovation of the vineyards with the aim of developing modern and competitive wine production.

As part of the wine heritage of Northwestern Bulgaria, the winery also preserves a rich wine library with collection wines from different vintages

BONONIA ESTATE

https://bononiaestate.com/

Bononia Estate is among the leading modern wine complexes in Northwestern Bulgaria, combining traditions, innovative winemaking and wine tourism. Located by the Danube river in the area of ​​the village of Koshava, the winery is built on a historic cellar from 1895, which has been restored and modernized with investments in modern technologies and its own viticultural base.

Since 2013, Bononia Estate has been developing its own vineyards, which today cover over 1300 acres. The winery produces high-quality white, red, rosé and sparkling wines from varieties such as Gamza, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

The complex includes a boutique hotel, restaurant, tasting rooms, a SPA center and event spaces, thereby contributing to the development of wine and cultural tourism in the Vidin region. In recent years, Bononia Estate has established itself as one of the recognizable wine destinations in Bulgaria and the Danube region, combining historical heritage, sustainable development and a modern economic vision.

BOROVITSA WINERY

Winery "Borovitsa" is a boutique winery located in the Belogradchik Rocks region, which is establishing itself as one of the recognizable producers of high-quality terroir wines in Northwestern Bulgaria. It was created as a joint project of oenologists Ognyan Tsvetanov and Adriana Srebrinova, united by the desire to preserve local wine traditions and develop modern artisanal winemaking.

The winery works with limited series of wines, produced mainly from its own vineyard plots, located on unique soils with a high content of iron oxides, minerals and microelements, formed by the weathering of the Belogradchik Rocks. The favorable climate and specific terroir create conditions for the production of wines with a distinctive character and high quality.

The winery produces boutique red, white, rosé and orange wines from varieties such as Gamza, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and others. Some of the wines are produced in limited editions of only a few hundred bottles, which establishes the winery as a symbol of artisanal winemaking in the region.

With its activities, the winery contributes to the development of viticulture, the local economy and wine tourism in the Vidin region, promoting Northwestern Bulgaria as a region with traditions and potential in the production of quality wines.

KNAUF BULGARIA EOOD – GYPSUM FIBER BOARDS PLANT VIDIN

https://knauf.com/bg-BG/knauf-gypsum/za-nas/nashata-istoriq-knauf-bulgariq

"Knauf Bulgaria" EOOD - Vidin plant is one of the significant industrial enterprises in the Vidin region and among the leading manufacturers of gypsum fiber boards in Bulgaria. The plant is part of the international group Knauf Bulgaria - a world leader in the production of building materials and dry construction systems.

The production base in Vidin has been operating since 1997 and is located on the banks of the Danube river, near the borders with Serbia and Romania. Thanks to its strategic location and modern equipment, the plant has established itself as one of the largest employers in the region and an important factor in the economic development of the region.

The plant produces high-quality gypsum fiber boards for use in modern construction for dry floors and walls under the Vidiwall and Vidifloor brands. A significant part of the production is intended for export, mainly to the markets in Austria, Switzerland and Italy, which contributes to the international presence of the industry in the region.

Knauf Bulgaria makes consistent investments in modern technologies, quality and ecological production solutions, and the company operates in accordance with international standards for quality management, environment and occupational safety. The plant's activities make a significant contribution to employment, industrial development and economic sustainability of the Vidin region.

"BDINTEX" EOOD

https://bdintex.com

"Bdintex" EOOD is a well-established tailoring company based in Vidin and with many years of experience in the textile industry. The company specializes in the production of men's shirts and women's blouses.

The company is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and equipment and applies modern production technologies that meet the requirements of international partners. It employs about 190 people, which makes it one of the significant employers in the region and an important factor for the local economy.

"Bdintex" EOOD has an established name in the tailoring industry and contributes to the development of light industry and the economic stability of the Vidin region, combining traditions, quality and competitiveness on the international market.