Deputy Regional Development and Public Works Minister Savin Kovachev Meets with Prof. Dr. Uday Desai and Prof. Dr. Keith Snavley of the University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale

Deputy Regional Development and Public Works Minister Savin Kovachev met today with Prof. Dr. Uday Desai and Prof. Dr. Keith Snavley of the University of Southern Illinois at Carbondale. In the focus of talks was the need for training on local self-government for the officers of the central, district and local government administration in Bulgaria. Deputy Minister Savin Kovachev told the guests that the Ministry of Regional Policy and Public Works had set up a new department in charge of implementing the policy of decentralization of local government. Kovachev stressed that one of the main priorities in the work of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is achieving balanced and sustainable development across the country, and that this target is enshrined in a bill on regional development. The two American professors said that they have come to Bulgaria for a series of meetings with competent institutions that can help them identify the priorities in a project on public administration in Bulgaria. Funding for such project will be made available by the US side and the Bulgarian side will be expected to prepare an expert opinion. Public Relations and International Activity Directorate