Bulgaria's Social and Labour Policy Ministry would be ready to present its strategy for allowing foreign nationals to work in Bulgaria within three weeks, Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin told German - Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GBCCI) on February 25 2008.

The strategy was yet to be approved by the Cabinet, Kalfin said, as quoted by Bulgarian news agency (BTA).

In addition to foreign nationals, Bulgaria will try to attract as workers Bulgarians who have emigrated for economic reasons and have not yet settled in other EU countries or the US, but also ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine and Moldova.

"At this stage, however, Bulgaria will be cautious in attracting such workers," Kalfin said. He added that the Government would help ease the process of hiring workers from outside the EU, a regular complaint, which was repeated once more at the meeting.

Bulgaria needed to act swiftly, as it risked to experience massive shortage of labourers within three years, unless measures were taken now, GBCCI chairman Bertram Rollman said. Given the major infrastructure projects that lay ahead for Bulgaria, such as Belene nuclear power plant and South Stream natural gas pipeline, the need for qualified workers was urgent, he added.

The political system and tax framework in Bulgaria were no longer a problem for the business, Rollman said. Companies however were concerned about carrying out major industrial, infrastructure and tourism projects.