BTA: New Construction Chamber Chair Kachamakov Pledges Fight Against Shadow Economy, Focus on Workforce and Youth Engagement

Lyubomir Kachamakov, the newly elected Chair of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber (BCC), told BTA in an interview that his priorities include combating the shadow economy, bringing Bulgarian workers back from Europe, and involving young people in the sector.

Beyond private investments, which are mainly focused on residential construction, it is currently difficult to predict which segments will be the main drivers of growth in the sector next year, he noted. The adoption of the 2026 State Budget Act has been postponed, and in this context it remains to be seen at what pace public contracting authorities - the State and municipalities - will continue their work, the BCC Chair said. He expressed hope that work will not come to a halt again, that the completion of already launched projects will be ensured, and that new ones will be planned. He placed particular emphasis on the municipal programme, which provides employment for companies across the country, stressing that it is important for the industry that it be implemented smoothly, as otherwise not only contractor companies but also residents of the respective municipalities, who are waiting for much-needed infrastructure, would be adversely affected.

The BCC Chair said it is difficult to indicate a specific percentage by which construction services may increase in price in 2026, but noted that growth is possible as a result of higher wages. "We hope there will be no surprises in material prices. It is important to explain to citizens, since for most of them the price of construction is equivalent to the price of real estate, that this is not the case. Construction costs include not only materials, but also the use of specialised equipment and the payment of labour with the respective social security contributions. Construction costs are only part of the factors that shape the final price of a property, which is set for buyers by the investor, and not the builder. The main component of this price is location; it also includes design, the type of materials used, whether the building is ‘smart’, ‘green’, and so on," said Kachamakov.

He noted that the sector is facing a shortage of young engineers, adding that through various internship programmes businesses are trying to spark their interest in this field of education and retain them in the industry. "We are working intensively with universities, as well as with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. On November 1, together with the Ministry, we already organised a job fair in Frankfurt for Bulgarians living and working in Germany. We plan to continue this initiative in other major European cities, as interest is very high," Kachamakov added.