As the Orange Mobile advertising iteration states, the future is bright. The future is bright because it allows hope and opportunity. It is both a personal and a collective hope and opportunity: personal and at the same time, shared. The Bulgarian nation and its people, inextricably linked in their hopes and opportunity, have a bright future. That future is whatever they want it to be. Currently, as part of the EU family, Bulgaria can hope to realise its hopes and opportunities. Nevertheless, to do so, Bulgaria’s Government has to consider and heed the needs of its own people and those beyond its borders comprising the extended EU family and the global village.

I came to Bulgaria for four days and three nights, so who am I to talk about Bulgaria? Well, if (we are informed by human resources gurus) people can decide about other people in the first 10 seconds of meeting them, perhaps a short stay visitor to Bulgaria can make a respectful, educated, and constructive decision regarding a nation and its peoples future: it’s worth a try.

Firstly, Bulgarians are hard-working and entrepreneurial. They have a strong work ethic, making them sought-after workers in the EU and other countries. Their attention to service and to the customer is a valuable and recognised asset, and companies large and small benefit from this. Indeed, one suspects Bulgaria benefits from this work ethic and is developing irrespective of government, foreign aid, and "mutri" and others interference and self-interest. My assessment of the Bulgarian people is that with much enthusiasm and flair they will make a future that is not bright but glowing. However, despite their hopes and the opportunities, national and local government may unwittingly stifle them. This appears apparent from casual observation that appears to indicate a lack of both national government stewardship and municipal management of infrastructure: it might be why tourism is falling and repeat business is absent.

Secondly, again Bulgarians are hard-working and entrepreneurial. They have a strong work ethic. However, if national Government does not provide appropriate and necessary stewardship in the form of rigorous regulations that support the entrepreneurial people, and local government fails to manage effectively and efficiently municipal infrastructure, all the hopes and opportunities will begin to fade.

Thirdly, and no apologies for again stating that Bulgarians are hard-working and entrepreneurial, possessing a strong work ethic. However, to achieve their hopes and the available opportunities provided by national and international public (EU) and private (multinational companies), national government must become the steward of the country and municipal government. Municipal government must provide the infrastructures that allow dedicated Bulgarians to achieve their hopes and take the opportunities available.
My brief yet revealing visit leaves me thinking that Bulgarians are good and friendly people – I did feel comfortable and "at home", that Bulgaria is in a period of transition that could result in "mutri" and others spurning private ad hoc development for personal gain, and instead gearing their efforts towards municipally planned and managed development (including private initiatives) and necessary supporting infrastructure, for Bulgarians and Bulgaria.

My "10 second" assessment is that municipal infrastructure is poor.

Overall, the impression was of a place in decline with pockets of wealth. The reality, I am sure is of hard-working people, proud of their country, being let down by poor municipal planning and management of infrastructure. There are many examples of "good" municipal government throughout the EU. I am certain any city would be pleased to host and advise in order to assist Bulgaria and its people achieve its deserved future and opportunity: we will assist another member of the EU family.
 
Kind regards,
Andrew Wainwright
England