ROCA IN SPAIN
On January 28, Roca Bulgaria said in a media statement that on January 25 in Barcelona, Roca Corporation signed a joint venture agreement with Cosmic Group (CG), by means of the acquisition of its 50 per cent capital. Spanish company Cosmic manufactures and markets accessories, furniture and other bath high-quality products. CG will be incorporated in the Roca bathroom products division. Currently Roca has factories in more than 20 countries selling its products in more than 125 countries. In Bulgaria the brand has a leading market position, while in Spain the company is the largest industrial investor.

THE BALTIC EXPERIENCE
On January 24, Aksedo Bulgaria held a seminar on the theme of operational programmes of European funds in Bulgaria - opportunities and challenges. At the event, held in Sofia's Military Club, leading economists from the Baltic region briefed Bulgarian business on European Operational Programmes financing opportunities. More than 80 local small and medium enterprises and eight industry organisations attended the event, as well as state administration officials including Deputy Minister of State Administration and Administrative Reform Maria Divizieva. They were told about the Baltic experience in absorbing European funds.

HUGE PROFIT GROWTH
State sea shipping company Navibulgare reached a net profit growth by 86.7 per cent to 35.1 million leva in 2007, IntelliNews agency reported on January 29. The higher profit is a result of time-charter and local market freights. Navibulgare revenues increased by eight million leva but the number of employees dropped by three per cent. Currently the company is into a process of privatisation, as previously reported by The Sofia Echo. The only bidder admitted to the final phase was German firm KG Maritime Shipping. At the beginning of January, the Privatisation Agency approved the bidder's request to extend the deadline for a final offer until February 19. Navibulgare net asset value shows the price of the 70 per cent stake should exceed 350 million euro.

REFUSE BURNING PLANT
US firm Crown International Incorporated (CII) expressed interest in building a factory for burning hazardous refuse, including biological, medical and toxic waste, near the north-western Bulgarian city of Vratsa. The plant will produce electricity, sand and metals as residual products. CII holds a global permit for pyrogenesis and specialises in burning and destruction of hazardous refuse, IntelliNews agency reported on January 29.

ACTAVIS CERTIFIED
Pharmaceutical company Actavis Bulgaria (AB), part of Iceland's Actavis Group, received a quality certificate for ISO 14001:2004 compliance from the UK Accreditation Service. The document concerns medicines and food additives production, and research and development activities with commitments to environmental protection. On the local market, AB shares leading positions with the Bulgarian Sopharma, IntelliNews agency reported.