04 novembre 2007
Trade exchanges between Moldova and Bulgaria increase over 90 per cent in 2007
Chisinau, 2 November /MOLDPRES/ - The trade exchanges between Moldova and Bulgaria increased over 90 per cent in 2007.
Economics and Trade Minister Igor Dodon made this assertion at a today's meeting with Bulgarian Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Lakezar Borisov.
The minister stressed that taking over Bulgaria's experience as regards the carrying out of the economic adjustments in the European integration process is of special importance for Moldova.
For his part, Lakezar Borisov said that Bulgaria intends to increase its investments in Moldova by setting up Moldovan-Bulgarian joint ventures. The guest specified that there is a special programme on the support of entrepreneurship in Bulgaria already, which is meant to encourage the Bulgarian business people who are willing to invest abroad, including in Moldova.
During the first seven months of 2007, the foreign trade between Moldova and Bulgaria amounted to about 53 million dollars, soaring 92 per cent against the same period last year.
On 1 April 2007, the Bulgarian investments in the Moldovan economy were estimated at about 33 million lei. Presently, 54 enterprises with Bulgarian capital are registered in Moldova.
http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=76471
17 juillet 2007
Stanishev: We Need Balanced Trade with Russia
All the necessary prerequisites for more mutually profitable cooperation between Bulgaria and Russia are present, Bulgarian PM Sergei Stanishev was firm.
He opened a forum dealing with the trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Stanishev stressed the importance of the energy projects, pointing out the selection of AtomExportStroy as a main implementor of NPP “Belene” and the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline agreement.
Our economic cooperation does not end with these projects, noted the prime minister claimed that the project “South stream” stipulates for bigger gas supplies. Russia, Greece, Italy and Bulgaria are participants in this project and its realization could really transform Bulgaria into an energy hub of the Balkans.
Stanishev did not omit to note that a main problem is the disbalance in Bulgaria' s trade with Russia. He reminded that it was not accidental both governments to have program, which includes measures for improvement of the trade balance.
Among the Bulgarian government's priorities is to search for possibilities for more balanced trade, underlined Bulgarian PM and pointed as encouraging the fact that in 2006 Bulgarian export to Russia has grown with 35%.
The lack of direct transport connections for the goods continues to be serious problem in the trade, said Stanishev and added that the governments are conduting intensive talks on the establishment of a naval transport connection.
According to Stanishev there is growing investment interest by Russia not only in real estate but also in production in Bulgaria.
Bulgarian PM stressed the importance of tourism, since this sector helps for the problem with the trade deficit to be partially resolved. This year 250 thousand Russian tourists are expected to visit Bulgaria, pointed Stanishev.
Stanishev noted that so far Russian investment are $ 300M, half of which are in “Neftohim Bourgas”.
Academic Evgeni Primakov, who is chairman of the Russia chamber of trade and industry, informed that today a memorandum for future cooperation with Bulgarian chamber of trade and industry would be signed.
He commented that investment development should be strengthened and small and medium-size business should be encouraged.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_639319802
Bulgaria-Russia: Perspectives of trade and economic relations
Prime minister Sergei Stanishev will welcome the participants in the round table “Bulgaria-Russia: Perspectives of trade and economic relations”, which will be held in the University for national and world economy in Sofia, informed BTA.
Organisers of the meeting are Forum “Bulgaria-Russia” and the Diplomatic institute, attached to the Minister of foreign affairs. The president of the Russian Chamber of commerce and industry Evgenii Primakov will also take part in the round table discussions.
http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1828440005
03 juillet 2007
Action in Bulgaria's Bourgas
The possibilities of Russian investment in the municipality of Bourgas were discussed by mayor Yoan Kostadinov and the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria Anatoliy Potapov.
The meeting was held at Potapov's initiative, who had taken an interest in the opportunities in the area for investment by Russian businesses, as well as the preparation for the upcoming municipal elections. Russia’s consul in Bourgas, Tonko Fotev, was also present at the meeting.
Potapov said that Russian business had already entered Bulgaria. The example given was the number of projects with Russian participation that had recently been started in places on the southern Black Sea coast, such as in the village of Ravda.
Potapos said that according to Russian businessmen, what was missing from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast was golf courses.
Kostadinov, on the other hand, suggested that apart from the villa zone on Dimchevo, there could be a place for much more Russian investments in Bourgas. One possibility could be the construction of a marina, an aqua park, and a children’s corner at the city Sea Garden. Kostadinov pointed out potential locations for the marina, such as Sarafovo or Mostika, even though he said that Mostika was not as suitable for such a construction as a part of the beach would have to be taken away. While Kostadinov said he hoped that Russian investment in the region would increase with time, Potapov said it was already constantly growing. It was mainly aimed at industry, agriculture, and the tourism sector.
Speaking about the municipal elections taking place in October, Potatov said that the current mayor Kostadinov was a good candidate and he would personally support him over another candidature. He gave as a reason the huge construction work in Bourgas, which in Potatov’s opinion was a sign of the city’s development.
But whether Kostadinov, who has been the mayor since 1995, would stand for a fourth term, is still unclear. “As I have already said to one national TV channel, I have not yet decided. Very soon I hope to be able to tell you my final decision,” the mayor said. What is certain, however, he said, was that there were still projects to be completed. The new hippodrome in Bourgas as well as the summer theatre, that now has a retractable roof, are yet to be officially opened. The renovation of some of the city’s squares also needs to be completed.
Meanwhile, Darik national radio reported on June 22 that a joint Bulgarian-Greek project will implemented, which will provide qualifications for workers who participate in the construction of the oil pipe line Bourgas-Alexandroupoulis. This was agreed in Greece by Zhelyazko Hristov, chairperson of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria and Yorgos Estotia, regional union leader in northern Greece.
The first stage of the pipeline construction will require 300 workers in Greece. It has not yet been specified to Bulgarian companies involved in the project how many workers will be necessary for the construction of the 155km of pipeline on the Bulgarian side, Hristov said. Nor it is clear yet what type of specialists are required and what qualifications they will be expect to have.
However, unions on both sides of the border have begun to prepare for a joint project that will provide opportunities to gain specialist qualifications in the construction of the pipeline. There will be three offices, in Bourgas, in Haskovo and Alexandroupolis.
“Our aim is for people to be prepared for this challenge,” Estotisia said. Additionally, the aim is to employ workers from the regions where construction will take place. The cost of the education project is yet to be estimated and it will be financed using EU funds.
In other news, Bourgas was one of the towns that recently suffered a weather abnormality in the middle of the heat wave that recently swept the country.
A tornado-type wind stronger than 100 km/h formed on the evening of June 23 and destroyed trees, billboards, and cars, while in nearby resort Sunny Beach the electricity was cut.
Fortunately, no one was injured and there was no flooding. The heavy storm did however cause severe damage to the Bulgarian Monte Carlo Circus.
The circus, owned by the Balkanski family, was in Bourgas as part of its summer tour in Bulgaria.
At about 10pm, the wind brought down the circus tent. At the time the circus animals were in their cages because their performance of the evening’s show had already finished. No animals were hurt. The entire show, however, had not ended and the incident happened during the clown’s performance. More than 600 people, mostly children, were inside the tent at the time. The tent was cleared in less than 40 seconds, using all seven exits. No one was seriously injured although one of the performers suffered minor scratches.
Alexander Balkanski, the director and owner of the family circus, said that the tent, made in Italy, had experienced four similar extreme situations. Because of the way it was constructed, the tent could resist wind of up to 100 km/h. The wind that night went over those limits and this is the reason it collapsed.
According to Balkanski, Mote Carlo 2 has been “extinguished” as the storm caused damages worth 500 000 euro. He plans to ask the Ministry of State Policy for Disasters and Accident for the money.
The circus was not insured. The reason being that apparently Bulgarian insurance companies would not insure a circus, while foreign insurance companies would not insure a Bulgarian circus.
Balkanski said that Monte Carlo 2, formed in 1820, has been ranked in the top five of the best European circuses for its modern equipment and the excellence of its performance. It has more than 220 performances annually and is a holder of numerous awards.
It was announced that a new tent would be put up by June 28. The tent is two years old and the circus will continue performing for another 10 days from that date. Those who were unable to see the whole show as a result of the incident caused by the storm, will be entitled to a new ticket for one of the remaining performances.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/action-in-bulgarias-bourgas/id_23461/catid_5
25 juin 2007
POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN BULGARIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS- PUTIN
Russian president Vladimir Putin met in Zagreb his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Purvanov, RIA Novosti reported.
The two took part in a regional energy conference.
Putin told Purvanov that the relations between the two countries were developing positively.
Developments affected all areas of co-operation, Putin said. Most of all, the exchange of goods between the two countries increased. Russia ranks as the second biggest trade exchange partner of Bulgaria, the report said.
Russia showed highest interest in infrastructure, energy projects and other types of investment, Putin said.
Putin said that he was content with the pace at which the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project was being executed. Russia, Bulgaria and Greece are the three countries that will be involved in the project.
Signing all documents was a step forward, now the three countries had to create the companies needed to execute the project, Putin said.
20 juin 2007
Russian parliamentary delegation visiting Bulgaria
| 19 June 2007 | 11:47 | FOCUS News Agency |
 |
|
Sofia. The chairman of the group for Friendship with Bulgaria in the State Duma Evgeniy Fyodorov is heading a Russian parliamentary delegation that is on an official three-day visit to Bulgaria. Today the Russian MPs will talk to the executive director of the Agency for SMEs Encouragement Stanimir Barazashki, as well as with the Chairperson of the State Tourism Agency Anelia Krushkova. Later in the day the delegation will visit the town of Pleven. Before leaving back to Sofia the Russian delegation will give a press conference at the Regional Administration building in Pleven. |
10 juin 2007
Ferry line to connect Varna, the Caucasus
| 4 June 2007 | 01:07 | FOCUS News Agency |
|
|
Sofia. Sofia and Moscow have agreed to open a ferry line between the Bulgarian sea of port of Varna and the Black Sea Caucasian ports. The next stage in the co-operation will be a route for the transportation of containerised cargo connecting Varna with the Caucasus, as the online English edition of Dnevnik Daily reported. The agreement is in line with Bulgaria's priority plans for the development of intermodal transportation. The government intends to build intermodal terminals in Sofia, Ruse, Burgas, Varna and Plovdiv. |
08 juin 2007
GOODS EXCHANGE BETWEEN BULGARIA AND RUSSIA INCREASES BY 38 PER CENT IN 2006
Goods exchange between Bulgaria and Russia increased by 38 per cent in 2006 as compared to 2005 figures.
Export to Russian market went up by 34.5 per cent, Focus news agency reported. Most items exported to Russia included machines, food products, cosmetics and tobacco products.
Import included mainly energy resources, machinery, equipment and transport facilities.
Trade exchange between the two countries totaled $4.143 billion.
Bulgarian-Russian business forum is expected to take place during the technical fair in Plovdiv in September 2007.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/goods-exchange-between-bulgaria-and-russia-increases-by-38-per-cent-in-2006/id_22998/catid_67
24 mai 2007
Sofia and Moscow to ink agreement on new gas pipeline
Two months after endorsing the project for the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, Bulgaria and Russia are working on a new intergovernmental energy agreement, Dnevnik was told by a source from the Bulgarian energy ministry. The new agreement concerns the project for the transportation of Russian natural gas via Bulgaria to the rest of Europe. The planned trans-Black Sea gas pipeline will most likely connect Russian port Novorosiisk with Bulgarian port Burgas. Once it reaches Bulgarian territory, the pipe could have up to 5 onward routes to destinations in Central and Southeastern Europe, in particular Greece and Italy. There is also an option that the new pipe could replicate the route of the rival Blue Stream project and connect Turkey with Bulgaria. State-owned gas suppliers Gazprom and Bulgargaz are expected to give more details about the project in June. The implementation of the project is expected to take Sofia's geostrategic position to another level. There are still no official estimates for the likely cost of the new gas pipeline. The Blue Stream project cost $3.2 bln with more than half of the funds spent on the undersea section of the facility which is three times shorter than the proposed Novorosiisk-Burgas route. At the moment, Bulgargaz transits 15 bln cu m of Russian natural gas annually and has the infrastructure capacity to increase the volume to 17 bln cu m per year. In related news, Svetoslav Ivanov, deputy executive director of local gas distributor Overgas, said the new government energy strategy sets a goal of some 11% of Bulgarian households switching to gas by 2011 with that share reaching 30% by 2020. Only 3% of Bulgarian households have already made the switch versus over 50% in the rest of the EU, said Ivanov. Some 4.5 mln Bulgarians, out of a population total of 8 mln, live in municipalities with no gas distribution infrastructure.(Dnevnik) |
12 mai 2007
Bulgaria's PM on Meeting with Russia's Putin
On the last day of his visit to Russia, Bulgaria's PM Sergey Stanishev will meet country's President Vladimir Putin, Darik News reported.
Stanishev will also meet the Russian Patriarch Alexei II, the Speaker of the Russian lower house Boris Gryzlov and the Premier Mikhail Fradkov.
During his meeting with this Russian counterpart, Stanishev will sign four agreements for cooperation - in tourism, mutual protection of classified info, economic and scientific-technical co-op and mutual protection of the results of intellectual property, used and received during military co-op.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=80367