Sat, Feb 11 2012
On Wednesday January 31, London Sofia Property - the developers of the forthcoming Bulgaria Mall - broke ground on their latest project, called Mount View. The complex is a luxurious, high-end residential development in the Vitosha foothills, near the road Simeonovsko Chausse.
At a news conference Hugh Fraser, London Sofia Property's executive director, gave details about the 20 million euro development.
"We are an international company and so are our standards," Fraser said. "We are not rushing for the construction to finish as soon as possible with no regards to the quality of realisation. Our mission is to create a next-generation development."
Mount View Sofia is constructed over six floors and consists of 128 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The built-up area is 15 000 sq m. It will combine up-to-date construction technologies with a multitude of services and equipment.
The complex will be built by the award-winning company Planex Holding. A 100 sq m one-bedroom apartment with a garage is set at 125 000 euro. Mount View is to be completed by the autumn of 2008.
London Sofia Property has made a decisive entry into the Bulgarian real estate market with several projects encompassing retail, commercial and residential developments.
To date, the company has completed six deals - three in Sofia, including Mount View and Bulgaria Mall, and three residential and commercial developments in Bansko, which are in the project phase. The company has representation in Croatia and in Macedonia and plans to invest in commercial properties in these countries.
"We are hoping that with the beginning of this big project, this will send a positive signal to other investors that the business climate in Bulgaria is improving, especially for investors who are in it for the long term, as is the case with BSR Sofia."
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average monthly salary increased to 727 leva, 4.9 per cent higher than in Q3, the National Statistics Institute says.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
Selectivity, not popularity, is the driving force behind Sofia's most exclusive members' only club.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.