Fri, Feb 10 2012
Photo: Юлия Лазарова
Meanwhile, July 2009 saw the number of visits abroad by Bulgaria increase, with a huge increase in travel to Greece, according to the National Statistics Institute
Cosmetics are the only item to register an increase while exports from Bulgaria of raw materials are among those that have decreased, the Bulgarian Industrial Association says.
The number of vacant offices in Sofia is increasing, reports say, the latest in a series of indications that Bulgaria’s real estate market is slumping.
Bulgaria's economy shrank by a real 4.8 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2009 and 4.2 per cent year-on-year for the first half of the year, the country's statistics board said in a flash estimate on August 17.
What will the future bring? Possible exchange rate and currency board scenarios in view of Bulgaria joining the euro area.
A year after the Cabinet announced its plan to help Bulgarian exports, the deficit narrowed to 1.6 billion leva in April 2009.
A 30 per cent drop of foreign investments is expected in Bulgaria in 2009 according to data from the Bulgarian Investment Agency.
Parliament eases procedure for granting state help to investors, a move that could further stimulate speculative investments in the country
The Government boasts about the Development Bank lending millions, while new figures show private lending shrinking sharply
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bulgaria will reach five to 5.5 billion euro in 2008, financial news website investor.bg quoted the head of InvestBulgaria government agencyStoyan Stalev as saying. Last year, FDI in Bulgaria was 6.11 billion euro. FDI in the first nine months of the year was 3.66 billion euro, compared to 4.7 billion in the same period of 2007, Stalev said, citing Bulgarian National Bank data.
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.