Leaders’ Forum Brings Business Executives Together to Discuss Bulgaria’s Eurozone Entry

Senior executives, financial experts, academics and media representatives gathered in Sofia to discuss the opportunities and challenges surrounding Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone.

The first edition of the Leaders’ Forum was held on 26 November at the Black & White Club in the Grand Hotel Millennium. The event was initiated by The Association of Gaming Industry in Bulgaria, organised in partnership with the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum and supported by Telematic Interactive Bulgaria AD.

Rossi McKee, co-founder and Vice President of Telematic Interactive Bulgaria, CT Gaming and CT Interactive, opened the forum by stressing the importance of dialogue between business, finance, academia and the media.

“Bringing together experience, knowledge and the voice of society is how we turn a shared vision into action and give meaningful direction to change,” she said.

Milo Borissov, founder and Honorary Chairman of the Bulgarian Gaming Association and investor in Telematic Interactive Bulgaria, CT Interactive and CT Gaming, highlighted Bulgaria’s growing importance as a base for internationally active technology companies.

He also reflected on the 16th edition of the Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo, noting that the event has developed from a traditional product showcase into a platform that helps shape regional standards in innovation, responsibility and business growth.

Anton Panayotov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, recognised Telematic Interactive Bulgaria as the first publicly listed Bulgarian company from the gaming sector and encouraged it to continue setting an example for the industry.

Eurozone Membership Takes Centre Stage

The evening’s central discussion, “Bulgaria in the Eurozone,” was led by financial expert Levon Hampartzoumian and Assoc. Prof. Manyu Moravenov.

The speakers examined how adopting the euro could affect Bulgaria’s economy, investment environment and international position. While acknowledging the challenges involved in the transition, they agreed that membership would mark an important step forward for the country.

Hampartzoumian described entry into the eurozone as a geostrategic achievement that would bring Bulgaria closer to the political and economic community it has chosen to join.

“After repeated attempts to postpone it, accession is finally going to happen - and that is good news,” he said

Moravenov focused on the potential impact on investment. He argued that eurozone membership could make Bulgaria more attractive to international companies while also giving Bulgarian investors easier access to opportunities abroad.

“The process works both ways,” he said.

New Awards Recognise Industry Contributors

The forum also hosted the first presentation of The Association of Gaming Industry in Bulgaria's “Faces of Change” awards. The initiative recognises people and organisations whose work supports the development of the country’s gaming industry.

Svetozar Abrashev of SIS received the Financial Partner award, Investor Media Group was named Media Partner, and Bob Miller was honoured for Special Contribution.

Angel Iribozov, Chairman of The Association of Gaming Industry in Bulgaria, said the organisers intend to establish the Leaders’ Forum as an annual event.

“Our ambition is to create a lasting platform where reliable data and expert knowledge can lead to practical decisions that benefit the wider economy,” he said.

The evening concluded with a performance by the FLAWLESS trio, followed by informal conversations among the guests.