For the first time in Sofia we collect over 500 representatives of startup companies. This is one of the most important events in the IT sector. In each of the countries in the region there are young people who are the future of digital economy. This was what Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel at the fourth edition of the Startup Europe Summit in Sofia.

In Eastern Europe we send a strong message that start-ups are at the heart of progress. In the nineteenth century leader was the railways; in the 20th century - radio and television. In the XXI century it is startup innovative companies. Courage is part of their DNA, Gabriel said.

For years the Balkans have been called a powder keg, and the region was first with its electronic card fraudster. This shows that there is enormous potential. This was what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at the fourth edition of the Startup Europe Summit in Sofia. What we are proposing is to harness these skills for constructive purposes. There are people in the world with less skills, who have created successful companies and have billions of revenue. Therefore, I propose that the Balkans, with common efforts of all countries, should become a region of start-up hubs in the IT sector, the PM said.