Romanian shipyard Daewoo Mangalia was urgently seeking shipbuilding experts from several countries, including Bulgaria, in order to be able to complete orders for a total of more than $1 billion (511.5 million euro), Rompress news agency was quoted as saying by Bulgarian daily newspaper Dnevnik.

By the end of 2008, the company would need 2000 newly recruited specialists to add to the 1000, which were directly or indirectly related to its operation.

“We are unable to find new engineers and technicians in this country, and the ones we have are not particularly good professionals. Therefore, we are forced to bring such professionals from Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, China or Vietnam. And, even if they live up to our criteria, it takes us two-three months to complete the procedure for hiring them, which is unacceptable to us,” Jae Bong Lee, President and CEO of Daewoo Mangalia Heavy Industries, was quoted as saying by Romanian financial daily Ziarul.

So far, the Koreans have invested almost one million euro in five training centres. The one in Mangalia was launched in September, and the rest would start accepting trainees by the end of October.

Furthermore, the company planed to build 500 housing units for its employees, which was an investment worth around 11.3 million euro. The number of apartments might rise to 2000 within the next ten years, if needed.

Investment in the Romanian venture is also increasing – 29 million euro this year, and another 23 million euro in 2008.