The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Bulgarian Stock Exchange recently hosted a London conference highlighting the significant developments on Bulgaria’s capital markets.

“Bulgaria has seen a clear upward trend in its capital market in the past year and presents numerous promising investment opportunities,” EBRD First Vice President Phil Bennett said in a bank press release. “The EBRD is a powerful catalyst for foreign direct investment in countries where we invest and we will continue working closely with the Bulgarian authorities, the stock exchange and other partners to channel equity and private financial flows into the country’s economy.”

The conference covered the outlook for Bulgaria’s economy and capital market and ongoing and upcoming developments that are poised to further strengthen the country’s financial potential, including the first Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) in the market and a small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) market.

“In the next months we will expand our portfolio of asset classes traded and bring transparency to markets where it currently does not exist,” Bulgarian Stock Exchange CEO Ivan Takev said. “We will also be able to fill all remaining gaps in the capital raising process for all types of companies, ranging from early stage start-ups to mature listed national champions.”