Cabinet Plans Amendments To Concession, State Properties Laws 14/03/2008
The cabinet will propose amendments to the legislation regulating concession contracts, state properties and coastline control in order to promote public-private partnership, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said at a news conference after a meeting of the Council for Coordination, Control and Implementation of Infrastructure Projects of National Importance. The news conference was attended by Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski, Economy and Energy Minister Peter Dimitrov, Transport Minister Peter Moutafchiev, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Assen Gagaouzov, and Environment and Water Minister Djevdet Chakurov. The planned changes will allow longer concession periods, which are currently limited to 35 years, and rents of state-owned land. "A total of 3.43 billion euro has... more

Eu Funding For The Development Of Strandja 08/10/2008
The preparation of a pilot project for local development of "Strandja" natural park gathered in Tsarevo municipality, Bulgaria the expert mission of foreign and local representatives, informs Expert.bg.Tatjana Rener from Slovenia, Terry O'Reagon from Ireland, experts from the Council of Europe and Peter Miladinov - head of unit in the Ministry of culture are visiting in order to work on a long-term strategy for the development of Strandja including the development of the culture of the reason.The project is under the regional program of the Council of Europe for cultural and natural heritage of Southeast Europe and will be funded by the European funds. Three Bulgarian municipalities are included in the project - Tsarevo, Malko Tarnovo and Sredetz. They are expected to sign a memorandum... more

Serbias Delta Maxi To Open 10 Stores In Bulgaria 08/05/2008
By the end of the year Serbian Delta Maxi plans to open 10 new supermarkets in Bulgaria, as part of its regional expansion campaign, Serbian broadcaster B92 reported. Delta Maxi bought a majority stake in Bulgarian retail chain Piccadilly last year, at which point its CEO Dragan Filipovic said the company would invest 70 million euro in Bulgaria over the next two years. The group plans to open 10 new commercial sites in Serbia, eight in Montenegro and five in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The company also plans to set foot in Albania, Macedonia and Ukraine. In Serbia, Delta Maxi dominates the market with more than 360 supermarkets and stores countrywide, reporting revenues of 900 million euro last year, B92 said. Its majority shareholder, Delta Holding is the country's largest private... more

Agricultural Land Another Can Of Worms 19/11/2008
Agrarian reform in Bulgaria is going in the wrong direction. But if the corporative model of working the land were implemented, then agricultural business could attract more foreign investment and boost the country's economy in the wake of the weakened tourism and construction sectors. This was the rough conclusion of a conference entitled Investments in Agricultural Lands 2008 - New Mechanisms for Comassation, organised by Elana financial group and Dnevnik daily on November 12 2008. "Comassation of agricultural lands" is a term that has been in use since 2002. It's also been a goal of various administrations. From about this time, a law was drafted that defined "comassation" as a process of amalgamating small land plots into a larger territory that could be cultivated or sold to... more

Increase In Newly Built Property Supply In Bulgarias Capital 12/03/2008
An increase in the supply of newly built property in Sofia was to be expected  in the beginning of 2007, according to real estate agents. Nearly 24 000 construction permits were issued only for the first nine months of 2005, National Statistical Institute data showed. The number exceeded more than two times the constructions begun in 2004, Darik Radio said. More than 35 000 new apartments would be offered for sale by the end of 2007, Dark said. Part of them would be sold even as projects and re-sold later at higher prices. Rise in the prices of newly built property was hardly probable until the end of 2006. If the demand to supply ratio remained unchanged, prices could rise by five to 10 per cent in the first three months of next year. The profit of construction companies... more