Bulgaria's capital experienced a real boom in the sphere of commercial complex construction in 2006, Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported.

The newspaper said that four new retail centres opened doors in 2006 and 11 malls are still under construction.

The report also mentions Sofia’s problems with the lack of proper infrastructure, public transport and refuse collection systems.

After the country's European Union (EU) accession Sofia prepares itself to reach the level of large European capitals but the city still fails meeting European standards in the real estate sector, the report said.

Sofia mayor Boiko Borisov said that the city's new zoning plan envisions more green areas. The plan also sets the zones intended to include only residential buildings.

The sphere of residential construction experiences an intensive development as 10 new complexes are in the process of being completed, mainly in the outskirts of Sofia.