Géopolitiques de la Bulgarie

31 août 2007

Sofia City Hall Fines Road Repair Firms

The Sofia city hall fined four firms that have repaired streets in the Bulgarian capital this summer a total BGN 150 500, mayor Boyko Borissov told reporters on Thursday.

The firm that repaired Tsagrigradsko Shosse, one of the key thoroughfares of the city, was fined BGN 125 000, after a city hall review found 14 sections, with an average length of 25 meters each, where the tarmac is slightly raised above the rest of the boulevard.

"The city has not paid a single penny for the repairs on Tsarigradsko Shosse, and we will not discharge the funds until the work is completed to our satisfaction," Borissov said.

If the firm fails to fix the botched sections within a month, the city hall will pay none of the BGN 750 000 for the repairs, he added.

The company could use the four-day weekend at the beginning of September, when Bulgaria celebrates Unification Day, to work on Tsarigradsko Shosse, otherwise it would have to carry out all repairs at night, according to Borissov.

The city hall also fined three more firms a total BGN 25 500 for delays in carrying out repairs on minor streets in the city.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=84756

BSP announces candidate for Sofia mayor

31 August 2007 | 20:25 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. The city council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party /BSP/ puts up general Brigo Asparuhov for Sofia mayor, a journalist of Focus News Agency reported. Asparuhov was elected after the party’s leadership voted: 26 out 51 leadership members voted in favor of Asparuhov; 24 voted in favor of another candidate – Georgi Kadiev. A total of three candidates took part in the race: Georgi Kadiev, Tihomir Stoychev and general Brigo Asparuhov. Tsvetomira GEORGIEVA

We brought soil from grave of tsar Ivaylo (1277 - 1280) to Bulgaria: historian

31 August 2007 | 19:31 | FOCUS News Agency

Veliko Tarnovo. The Bulgarian expedition that visited Ukraine and Romania brought soil from the graves of Bulgaria’s founders – khan Kubrat and khan Asparuh, and of tsar Ivaylo (1277 - 1280), which is situated in what is today Romania, historian Associate Professor Plamen Pavlov from University of Veliko Tarnovo “St. Cyril and St. Methodius” told Focus News Agency. He headed the Bulgarian expedition. The soil will be kept in St. Forty Martyrs church in the northern town of Veliko Tarnovo as a continuation to the program to turn the church into a Pantheon of the Bulgarian Tsars, Director of the National History Museum Bozhidar Dimitrov told Focus News Agency.

Bulgarie: le gouvernement table sur une croissance de 6% en 2008

Le gouvernement bulgare a indiqué jeudi viser pour 2008 une croissance de 6%, une inflation moyenne annuelle de 3,7% et un excédent budgétaire de 2,5%, dans ses objectifs pour l'année prochaine, qui verra également la généralisation d'un impôt unique de 10%.
Le budget 2007 tablait sur un excédent de 0,8%, une croissance de 5,8% et une inflation annuelle moyenne de 4,4%.
Le texte prévoit le maintien du taux d'imposition sur les bénéfices de 10% introduit début de 2007, et la création d'un taux unique d'imposition des personnes physiques de 10%, soit le plus bas d'Europe, "en vue de réduire l'économie grise" actuellement estimée à un tiers du PIB.
Le gouvernement prévoit d'augmenter de 10% les plus bas salaires de la fonction publique afin de compenser les effets de cette mesure pour les tranches qui n'étaient jusqu'à présent pas ou très peu imposables.
Selon le ministre de l'Economie Petar Dimitrov, cette mesure doit inciter également le secteur privé à augmenter les salaires.
Le salaire minimum, qui se chiffre actuellement à 180 leva (92 euros), sera parallèlement augmenté de 22% pour atteindre 220 leva (112 euros), mais demeurera le plus bas d'Europe.
Actuellement, de nombreuses entreprises privées ne déclarent que le salaire minimum non imposable pour une partie de leur personnel, qui reçoit un supplément non déclaré.
Le gouvernement avait déjà décidé d'une augmentation des retraite de 10% à partir du 1er octobre 2007, après une première augmentation de 10% au 1er juillet.
Le taux d'imposition unique a été salué par les grandes sociétés qui estiment qu'il "limitera la concurrence déloyale et encouragera les travailleurs qualifiés", aux dires de la directrice de l'Union des employeurs, Sasha Bezuhanova.
Pour Ilian Vassilev, représentant bulgare de la compagnie de conseil Deloitte/Touche, "le taux unique est un pas en avant vers une réduction du secteur gris de l'économie".
Toutefois, un diplomate européen en poste à Sofia a estimé que "la pression fiscale (...) en Bulgarie n'est pas le vrai obstacle au développement et à l'investissemnt. Les vrais obstacles résident dans la faiblesse de l'administration, dans la corruption et dans l'environnement des affaires".
http://www.lesechos.fr/info/inter/afp_00043356.htm

Two documents for encouraging Bulgaria – India economic partnership to be signed

30 August 2007 | 13:33 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. The government approved a project for economic partnership agreement between Bulgaria and India, and the amendments in the Treaty for encouragement and protection of the investments shared between the countries, which dates back to 1998, a Focus News Agency reporter informed. The two documents will be signed by the minister or economy and energy during Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev’s visit to India. The signing of the papers ascertains Bulgarian government’s long-term economic interests in Asia and its readiness to strengthen the useful partnership with leading countries in the region.

Bulgaria's Govt OKs BGN 220 Minimum Wage, 10% Flat Tax for '08

Bulgaria's government approved a minimum monthly wage of BGN 220, a flat tax rate of 10% and an annual GDP growth of 6% among the key points in the medium-term fiscal framework for 2008-2010.

The framework was drafted after the leaders of the three-party ruling coalition gave it the nod of approval at their meeting at the end of July at the coastal Euxinograd residence.

The draft sets medium-term inflation at 3.7%, to go down to 2.6 by the end of the period, and a budgetary surplus of 2.5 %.

Corporate tax will remain unchanged at 10% and VAT at 20%.

Budget salaries and pensions are planned to increase by 10% as of July 1 and October 1 respectively.

Excise taxes on cigarettes and fuels will increase starting from next year to reach the minimum rates in the other European Union member states.

The excise tax on cigarettes will go up by 50% from the last agreed increment in 2008 and by the remainder 50% in 2009, while that on petrol products will increase by BGN 0,05 per litre.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=84773

"Rumänien und Bulgarien im Fokus der deutschen Wirtschaft"

Dem Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft zufolge ist der Handel mit Mittel- und Osteuropa im ersten Halbjahr 2007 auf Rekordniveau geklettert. Oliver Wieck, Vorsitzender des Ausschusses, im Interview mit DW-RADIO.

DW-RADIO: Herr Wieck, der deutsche Handel mit Mittel- und Osteuropa hat im ersten Halbjahr 2007 mit über 133 Milliarden Euro ein neues Rekordniveau erreicht. Woran liegt das?

Oliver Wieck: Das hat sicherlich damit zu tun, dass die Chancen gerade für die deutschen Unternehmen in Mittel- und Osteuropa von besonderer Bedeutung sind. Das liegt daran, dass der Investitionsbedarf in der Industrie, in der Wirtschaft in diesen Ländern weiterhin hoch ist und deutsche Unternehmen mit ihren Exportgütern gerade in diesem Investitions- und Kapitalgüterbereich prädestiniert sind, um zur Modernisierung und Diversifizierung der Wirtschaft in diesen Ländern beizutragen.

Auch das Handelswachstum mit den neuen EU-Mitgliedsländern Rumänien und Bulgarien ist von großer Dynamik geprägt. Gibt es dafür auch psychologische Ursachen – wie z. B. eine Euphorie durch den EU-Beitritt - oder ist das ein genereller Trend im Handel mit diesen Ländern?

Sicherlich hat der EU-Beitritt das zusätzlich erleichtert, weil viele Regelungen nun auch übernommen oder angewendet wurden, die es auch sonst in der EU gibt, auch wenn es da Übergangsfristen in vielen Bereichen gibt. Ansonsten haben die Unternehmen sicherlich diese Beitritte längst vorausgenommen und sich schon vorher in diesen Märkten positioniert. Daher kann man da nicht von einer Euphorie reden, die Anfang 2007 angefangen hat, sondern das ist ein Prozess, der schon seit längerer Zeit anhält. Wir stellen schon seit mehreren Jahren fest, dass gerade der Fokus auf die Länder Rumänien und Bulgarien in den letzten Jahren sehr groß war.

In Bulgarien ist Deutschland als Investor auf den fünften Platz gerutscht. Ist das ein Zeichen für ein ungünstig gewordenes Investitionsklima? Manche Investoren sagen, dass es in Bulgarien nicht mehr genug ausreichend qualifizierte Arbeitskräfte gebe.

Das würde ich so nicht in Verbindung setzen. Ich glaube, die deutschen Unternehmen waren immer schon und sind auch in Zukunft sehr interessiert an guten Projekten in Bulgarien. Es gab auch eine ganze Reihe von Beteiligungen in verschiedenen Bereichen. Nicht alle Vorstellungen der deutschen Unternehmen haben sich erfüllt. Aber es gibt eben auch eine ganze Reihe von erfolgreichen Investments, im Bereich Energieverteilung und in vielen anderen Bereichen. Da würde ich jetzt nicht sagen, dass sich da irgendetwas verschlechtert hat, sondern das ist ein fortlaufender Prozess.

Das hohe Wachstumsniveau in Mittel- und Südosteuropa bedeutet auch höhere Löhne, somit auch höhere Lohnkosten für die Investoren. Heißt das, die deutschen Investoren ziehen weiter nach Osten?

Das tun sie schon heute. Sicherlich gibt es die klassischen Industrien wie Textilindustrie und teilweise auch bei den Automobilzulieferern, die sich auf der Wanderung befinden. Aber ich glaube, jedes Land tut gut daran, die Rahmenbedingungen für Investoren so zu verbessern, dass Industrien, Unternehmen auch dauerhaft in den verschiedenen Ländern bleiben. Das was jetzt, gerade auch in den von Ihnen angesprochenen Ländern Rumänien, Bulgarien stattfindet, sind sicherlich eher Investitionen, die aus strategischen Gründen dort stattfinden und die nicht aufgrund der höheren Löhne in den nächsten Jahren sofort wieder verlagert werden.

Marinela Liptcheva-Weiss
DW-RADIO/Bulgarisch, 30.8.2007, Fokus Ost-Südost

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2759002,00.html

Pari daily news highlights

31 August 2007 | 07:28 | FOCUS News Agency

Hectic autumn action forecast on BSE The total number of indexes on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) will grow to four after the start of the BG REIT and BG Total Return 30 indexes as of the beginning of September. A total of 11 companies specialising in real estate investments will be included in the calculation of the BG REIT index. The BG TR30 index will feature the 30 companies with the highest return over the recent months. Secondary trade in shares Bianor, Specialised Business Systems (SBS) and Devin AD will start in September. The starting date for the launch of the secondary trade in Bianor and SBS will by set by BSE's supervisory board. Starting dates for trade in the new shares of insurer Euroins, Industrial Capital Holding and Balkancar Zarya will also have to be set. No dates have been announced so far for the initial public offerings of new companies in September. Banks' profit up by 58.7% end-Jul The profit of the Bulgarian banking sector reached BGN 609 million at the end of July, up by BGN 225 million (58.7%) year on year, BNB data show. The growth was mainly due to improved net interest income. The performance may be the result of the increased volume and better quality of banks' portfolios, the CEO of DSK Bank, Violina Marinova, told the Pari daily. The total assets of credit institutions reached BGN 48.5 billion. Telecommunications revenue tops BGN 3bn in 2006 The total revenue of the telecommunications sector in Bulgaria exceeded BGN 3 billion in 2006, data of the Communications Regulation Commission shows. The figure represents a 10-percent increase compared to 2005. The combined turnover of mobile phone operators amounted to BGN 1.8 billion in 2006, up by 19% year on year. Fixed-line phone services generated nearly BGN 800,000 turnover in 2006, down by 5% compared to 2005.

Diplomas from abroad are still a luxury

31 August 2007 | 04:51 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. More and more people from Bulgaria are trying to study and get their university degrees from abroad, which should later guarantee them a better future. Most of the students get the money from their parents. Another option is to get an education loan. Some of the banks in Bulgaria already offer such loans to future students, Cash writes. SG Expressbank is one of the banks that offer loans for studying abroad. The maximum amount of the loan is BGN 15 thousand with payment periods of between 12 and 84 months. The annual interest rate is 12%. There is a gratis period, which enables students to pay only the interest during their education, and after they graduate they start paying back their debts. DSK Bank offer loans for students with maximum amount of BGN 6 thousand and the payment period is 8 years after the gratis period has finished. There has to be a company, which will act as a middleman, i.e. the company will sign the contract with the bank, and thus will serve as a guarantee to the bank. First Investment Bank offers mortgage loans for students. The maximum amount is no more than 75% of the retail value of the property. The client’s age must be between 18 and 65. The maximum payment period is 30 years, with an interest rate of minimum 6.7% Economic and Investment Bank offers similar loans to the other banks but one of the requirements for the customer is the have a contract with Integral. The maximum amount is EUR 3,500, as the applicant mustn’t be older than 35. The payment period is 7 years with a 12-month gratis period. The interest rate varies from 10.45% (for existing customers of the bank) to 11.45%. England is the most wanted destination by future students, as since Bulgaria joined the EU the fees for Bulgarians dropped from GBP 7 thousand to GBP 3 thousand. Another factor is the decrease of international students in USA since the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001 –from 6.4% in 2001 to 0.05% in 2006.

Bulgarians working abroad drive real estate process up

31 August 2007 | 02:30 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. Banks began restricting loan approvals. Bulgarians working abroad are a major group of the clientele of real estate agencies. Although working many kilometers far from home many of them are familiar with the trend of increasing interest rates and are trying to buy acquire a home of their own as fast as possible. In the same time banks announced that new interest rates for home loans will be calculated as an answer to the restrictive measures introduced by BNB. FIBank announced earlier it is going to slightly and moderately increase interest rate levels for its debt products. The two banks ground their intentions on the forthcoming set of credit growth curbing measures that the central bank is about to enforce next month. United Bulgarian Bank (UBB) is now charging 0.5% higher interest rates on its mortgage loans for home purchases and repairs. The new set of terms are to become effective as of September 1st for new loans and as of October 1st for old debts. UBB is also putting up its interest accruement on promotional housing loans in BGN – previously charged 0.9% in the opening year, these credits will accrue 1.5%, as there will be no changes for the remainder.