Education

PhD in Social Medicine and Healthcare Organisation
Medical University of Sofia

Master’s in Public Health and Health Management
Medical University of Sofia

MBA (Finance)
City University of Seattle, USA

Master’s in Electrical Engineering
Technical University of Sofia

Languages
български, English, Français

Biography

Dontcho Barbalov is an expert in public finance, economic policy and regulatory reform with over 30 years of experience in international financial institutions and public administration. In 2025–2026 he served as Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria, leading the transposition of EU consumer protection directives, participating in Bulgaria’s OECD accession negotiations, and representing Bulgaria before the US Trade Representative on intellectual property matters.

For over a decade (2011–2023) he served as Deputy Mayor of the City of Sofia, responsible for finance, healthcare and transport, overseeing the municipal budget process, managing relationships with international rating agencies, and coordinating a healthcare network of 11 hospitals. He previously worked as a Banker at the EBRD (2006–2011) and Project Leader at the World Bank (2002–2006). In 1998–2002, as a Programme Specialist at USAID, he contributed to establishing Bulgaria’s pension system and the National Health Insurance Fund.