Investment in technological improvements and compliance with the environmental standards by the Bulgarian chemical industry is expected to reach over 1 billion euro over the next five years, BTA reports.

This emerged Monday at the start of a two-day meeting of Bulgarian and Romanian chemical industry representatives in this Danubian city.

Following a dramatic decline in the Bulgarian chemical industry in the period of transition after 1989, the Bulgarian chemical industry has been in ascent for two years now, said the Vice President of the Bulgarian Chamber of the Chemical Industry, Yoncho Pelovski. Solvay Sodi of Devnya accounts for 40 per cent of the European soda ash production.

The Bulgarian petrochemical industry is processing up to 6 million tonnes of oil. The wages in the sector have improved. This allows chemical companies to attract an ever increasing number of young people. Admission at the Sofia University of Chemical Technology increased by 20 per cent this past admission campaign.