Speaking before over 30 representatives of the German business - member-companies of the German-Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GBCIC), Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Rosen Plevneliev presented the priorities of the Ministry's new program. Within a working breakfast Minister Plevneliev singled out important infrastructure projects.

Participating in the meeting were German Ambassador to Bulgaria Matthias Hopfner, GBCIC Chief Manager Mitko Vassilev, Bulgarian and German businessmen.

The Ministry's program covers a period of four years. The Minister assured the participants in the meeting that all projects within it will be financially provided.

Plevneliev said that the construction of motorways will begin as soon as possible. The Spatial Development Act will be urgently amended for this purpose. The new texts should be approved by Parliament by the year's end.

The tender documents about the Trakiya Motorway (Sofia-Bourgas) will be ready by October and the bidding for the selection of a contractor will begin in November. The motorway should be completed by the summer of 2012. So far the average of 11 kilometers have been constructed annually. The norm for the next years should be 70 kilometers annually, the Minister said. The construction of the Hemus Motorway (Sofia-Varna) is also to be continued.

A main priority of the new program is Operational program Regional Development, which should be launched by February 2010. Projects for some 1,600 million euro will be implemented.

Waste water treatment is another priority within the program. The Ministry is ready to cooperate with GBCIC and German companies so as to attract a higher number of companies, which, using its experience, will enhance the absorption of the EU funds extended for this purpose, the Minister also said.

Source: BTA