Total EUR 4.015 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) is attracted in 2006, Bulgarian National Bank reports. FDI achieved in 2006 accounts for 16.6% of GDP and exceeds by 73% the FDI inflow in 2005 which then amounted to 10.8% of GDP.

52.3% is the share of the equity capital in 2006 FDI. Real Estate sales income accounts for 54% of the equity capital.

Real estate, Landlord Activities and Business Services have the largest share in 2006 FDI - EUR 1,210.7 million, followed by the Processing Industry with EUR 776.6 million, Financial Intermediation - EUR 627.2 million, Trade & Repair - EUR 421.6 million and Construction - EUR 400.4 million.

The foreign investments in Real estate, Landlord Activities and Business Services have increased 2.6 times compared to 2005. At the same time, FDI in Construction has more than doubled. Among the processing industries, Metallurgy & Metal Products Manufacture has attracted the largest amount of FDI - nearly 10% of 2006 total FDI.

The UK is investor number one for 2006 with EUR 686 million or 17.1% of total FDI, followed by the Netherlands with EUR 668 million and Austria with EUR 448 million. As of end 2006, Austria ranks first in terms of FDI stock in Bulgaria, next is the Netherlands followed by Greece, the UK and Germany.