WIRELESS PERMIT
Bulgaria’s National Railway Infrastructure Company has been issued a six-month licence to operate GSM-R, a wireless communications platform developed specifically for railway communication and applications. GSM-R is part of the new European Rail Traffic Management System standard and carries the signalling information directly to the motorman, enabling higher train speeds and traffic density with a high level of safety. Thales Alcatel Lucent consortium will install the GSM-R system on the Plovdiv-Svilengrad railway.

LARGER INPUT
Cinema City International (CCI), part of Israel’s International Theatres, is increasing its participation in two local mall developers by 18 million euro, Bulgarian-language Dnevnik reported on August 5. CCI will buy 15 per cent of Mall Plovdiv and 45 per cent of Malls Cinema City, which is building a shopping centre in Rousse. The deal increases to 90 per cent CCI’s participation in Malls Cinema City.

INCREDIBLE PROFIT RAISE
Sugar cane producer Sugar Plants (SP), based in Gorna Oryahovitsa, had 76.8 per cent more sales for the first six months of 2008 in comparison to the same period of 2007, the firm’s non-consolidated report showed. Its profit grew by the incredible amount of 471 per cent. The total income increased by 73.9 per cent, reaching 25.6 million leva. On August 4, Sugar Plants shares increased by 18.17 per cent and closed the Bulgarian Stock Exchange session at 9.1 leva.

MORE CAR ENGINES
Balkancar Zarya (BZ), Pavlikeni based car parts and engines producer, reported 51.5 per cent higher income for the first half of 2008. Its sales number increased by 50.8 per cent. The company’s profit decreased by 59.6 per cent due to quick increase of expenses, which are 59 per cent higher compared to the first six months of 2007. BZ shares rose by 9.69 per cent at the Bulgarian Stock Exchange on August 4, Pari daily reported.

FRENCH IN ROUSSE
The 70 million leva plant that Montupet, the French manufacturer of aluminium components for the automotive industry, is building in Rousse will start operation on September 12, said Ivelin Dimitrov, head of human resources at Montupet Bulgaria. Aluminium auto components will make up 62 per cent of the plant output. The French investor said that the factory is designed for an initial annual turnover of 45 million euro, expected to later reach 140 million euro.