Sliven will host the first Sliven Future Forum 2026 on October 10-11, under the theme "Investment and the future for Sliven region," the regional administration says. The forum will take place at the Imperia Fratelli hotel and is organised by an independent, non-government steering committee. Organisers expect representatives of state and local government, business, financial organisations, universities and the diplomatic corps to attend.
The forum will be opened by Sliven regional governor Mihail Kasherov, Sliven MP Vesela Momcheva-Town and Petar Vitanov, who heads the Progressive Bulgaria parliamentary group. Deputy prime minister and innovation and growth minister Aleksandar Pulev has been invited as a guest.
The first day opens with the INVEST SLIVEN panel, covering national investment policy, the growth of Sliven Industrial Park and the criteria international companies use when choosing a region for investment. Talks are planned on innovation, artificial intelligence, automation, data centres and the startup scene, as well as precision farming, short supply chains and tourism. Other topics include transport links and plans to turn Sliven Airport into a model for cargo flights and drones. Organisers will also present the Sliven Connect platform, aimed at attracting and keeping skilled workers in the region. The day ends with an investment tour of Sliven Industrial Park, the Sliven mineral baths and the airport.
On October 11 the focus turns to a joint economic plan for the region called "Sliven 2030." Representatives of the municipalities of Sliven, Nova Zagora, Tvarditsa and Kotel will discuss joint regional projects. The second day ends with the announcement of "10 future steps for Sliven region."
Organisers expect the ambassadors of Japan, China, Turkey, Italy, Romania and Greece to take part, along with representatives of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Lecturers, deans and rectors from leading Bulgarian universities have also been invited.