site.btaState to Deepen Cooperation with Local Authorities for Attracting Investments by Regions

Coordinated efforts for attracting investments by regions, assistance by Bulgaria’s commercial representatives abroad to present municipalities and advancing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest were agreed at a meeting on Wednesday of caretaker Economy Minister Nikola Stoyanov and Silvia Georgieva, Executive Director of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria, the Ministry said.

"A top priority is the preparation of the economy for the upcoming winter," said Minister Stoyanov. In this respect opportunities for advancing partnership with the local governments in order to improve response on site were at issue. Georgieva expressed concern on behalf of the local authorities over the fact that under the existing legislation they are identical to commercial operations.

Among the priorities of the Economic Ministry is preparations of changes to the Investment Promotion Act. The current procedure no longer meets social conditions and one of the important jobs is to reformat the system so that a track is opened for smaller investments which could be implemented in more places across the country. Of greater importance for local authorities is the development of enterprises which provide sustainable living, it emerged at the meeting. 

Improved partnership between the commercial attaches with the Economy Ministry and Bulgarian municipalities was among the other topics discussed.

“We don’t look at the caretaker government as a team which is waiting for its tenure to end. We are looking at you as ministers from a regular government and the Association won’t let off the pressure with which it is working,” said Georgieva.