Minister Avramova: We work for balanced development of the regions

“There is a big difference in the development of the regions in Bulgaria, so the government, including the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, is working to find tools for balanced development of the regions, especially with regard to the Northwestern part of the country, which should reach the development of Southern Bulgaria.” 

This was said by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petya Avramova at a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria Nargiz Gurbanova.

“We continue to take all necessary measures to encourage investment in the country, including a number of programmes, but there is still work to be done,” the minister added. She stressed that Bulgaria is currently undergoing reforms to reduce administrative burdens at all levels of state and municipal administrations by changing a number of regulations.

“All these measures are aimed at facilitating business, investors and the investment process in our country,” Avramova added.

One of the areas in which Bulgaria and Azerbaijan could expand and deepen their cooperation is road infrastructure, it was clarified during the meeting.

“The government, through the Road Infrastructure Agency, is implementing a large-scale road construction programme, the idea of ​​which includes the construction of a highway ring in the country,” the regional minister explained and added that work was under way on the completion of the Hemus highway as well as the Struma highway, part of the Pan-European Transport Corridor 4.

“The vertical high-speed road sections Vidin - Sofia and Ruse - Veliko Tarnovo are important for our country,” Petya Avramova said, adding that some of these road projects are planned to be implemented through concessions. According to her, the willing Azerbaijani investors could participate in the concession procedures and part of these roads and tunnels could be built on the basis of public-private partnership, and the investment will be repaid in time by the tolls that will be collected.

Bulgaria and Azerbaijan could develop their economic ties through the cross-border programme “Black Sea Basin” 2014 - 2020, under which joint projects can be implemented, it became clear during the conversation.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan Nargiz Gurbanova presented the programme for socio-economic development, which they have been implementing in recent years, and highlighted its importance for the prosperity of the regions there. According to her, the Azerbaijani side focuses on investments and development of the tourism sector, information technology, construction and infrastructure.  

“When we talk about the development of relations between Europe and Asia, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan are strategically at a crossroads,” said Ambassador Gurbanova during the meeting, adding that their country has ties with Central Asia and Bulgaria with Eastern Europe. “This connection must exist and continue to develop not only politically but also economically,” Gurbanova was adamant.

The specific areas in which, according to her, the two countries can cooperate are the development of river transport along the Danube River and port infrastructure.

The Azerbaijani side is interested in expanding the exchange of experience and good practices with Bulgaria in several other areas as well - improving national legislation in the field of regional development; exchange of experience in the field of energy efficiency and implementation of large infrastructure projects.