Bulgaria registered a 7% increase in exports of metallurgical sector products in 2013, according to Ivan Ayolov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy.

Speaking Thursday at the opening of the XXI International Scientific and Technical Conference Metalcasting 2014 in Pleven, he explained that the creation of favorable conditions for a recovery of Bulgarian industry was a major task for the government as a stable industry was a precondition for economic prosperity.

Ayolov, as cited by the press office of the Ministry of Economy and Energy, emphasized that the introduction of new technology in metallurgic and cast metal enterprises would boost their competitiveness on international markets.

He said that the government had provided funding under the National Innovations Fund, as well as funding under the new operational program Innovations and Competitiveness, in a bid to fast-track the process.

Responding to journalists' questions about the support of the state for the metallurgic sector, he explained that the Ministry of Economy and Energy was forming a working group consisting of experts from the energy sector and representatives of big industrial companies from the metallurgic sector.

Ayolov noted that the working group would discuss tariff plan options which would be proposed to the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR), the aim being to achieve competitiveness and to balance the electricity system.

He also drew attention to the efforts of the government to restore the severed connection between education and the business sector, adding that the dual education system would enable a smooth transition from education to career development, thereby boosting the fight against youth unemployment.

The conference was attended by representatives of local foundry associations, representatives of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and of technical universities, as well as leading international and Bulgarian companies specialized in machinery, equipment and technologies.