The event brought together senior representatives from across the global marine industry to discuss the current market environment, investment and consolidation trends, the future of yacht building, brand development, evolving ownership models, and the role of new technologies in the sector.

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Radulov’s participation reflects BABI’s continued commitment to connecting the Bulgarian boating industry with the major international conversations shaping the future of the sector. As Bulgaria develops its position in yacht building, marine services and the wider recreational boating value chain, international engagement remains a key priority for the Association.

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Among the main topics discussed at the summit were the current challenges facing the marine market, including high interest rates, fuel costs, cautious consumer sentiment and changing expectations from owners and charter operators. At the same time, speakers highlighted the positive long-term outlook for boating, supported by experiential travel, charter growth and continued interest in premium leisure experiences.

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A significant part of the agenda also focused on artificial intelligence, digitalisation and the use of data in yacht building and after-sales. These discussions explored how connected knowledge systems, digital twins, production data, service history and vessel usage information could support better decision-making across the full yacht lifecycle.

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Commenting on the event, Kaloyan Radulov said:

“The IBI Summit offered a valuable opportunity to understand how leading international companies are looking at the future of the boating industry. The sector is clearly facing short-term pressure, but the long-term opportunity remains strong. For Bulgaria, it is important not only to follow these discussions, but to be part of them.”
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He added:

“Artificial intelligence and the collection of yacht usage data were among the key themes of the summit. While I believe the practical adoption of AI in yacht building will take time, especially in such a traditional, customised and craftsmanship-driven industry, the opportunity to organise knowledge better and improve decision-making is real. This is an important direction for the future of boatbuilding.”

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BABI will continue to work towards strengthening Bulgaria’s presence in the European and international boating industry by encouraging collaboration, knowledge exchange, industry representation and the development of a stronger local marine ecosystem.

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