PRIME Minister Sergei Stanishev has invited motor vehicle giant DaimlerChrysler to build a spare-part or car manufacturing plant in Bulgaria.
This emerged after Stanishevs visit on January 23 to the German state of Baden-Wurttemberg where he met top management of the company manufacturing the brands Mercedes, Maybach and Smart.
Stanishev discussed with them the offset agreement worth 500 million euro between DaimlerChrysler and Bulgarias Defence Ministry, accompanying the contract for supply of 12 900 vehicles for the Bulgarian armed forces within five years. He said that it was international practice that companies that have signed such offset deals should invest in the countries involved.
DaimlerChryslers managers said that they had such intentions and were investigating the market potential of Bulgaria. Company representatives are expected to arrive in Bulgaria in February to meet Economy and Energy Ministry officials in Sofia and discuss investment options.
In Stuttgart, Stanishev also met Baden-Wurttembergs prime minister Guenther Oettinger. The two signed a joint declaration on co-operation. The two countries stated their political will to further deepen bilateral contacts. A joint commission will be set up to co-ordinate specific projects at expert level and follow their implementation.
Klaus Mangold, chairman of the Eastern Committee of the German Economy, emphasised Germanys lasting, steady and firm support for Bulgarias European Union membership.
Stanishev said that Bulgaria joining the EU would encourage the countries of the region to implement reforms, while a possible postponement would discourage the Bulgarian public, as well as the countries of the Western Balkans.
Stanishev took part in an economic forum in Baden-Wurttemberg along with prominent business representatives. The event was organised by Manfred Nussbaumer, honorary consul of Bulgaria.
Stanishev told the German business community that Bulgaria was a promising market for foreign investors in the context of its upcoming EU accession. Factors in its favour were its fiscal policy, sustainable economic development and political stability, which was manifested, among other things, in the formation of a broad government coalition. He identified the broad public and political consensus on Bulgarias EU membership as another positive factor.
Mangold said that the dialogue between Bulgarian and German businesses should be stepped up through specialised forums of industrialists. He said that more German business people should travel to Bulgaria to see for themselves the progress in its development and reforms. Mangold said the countrys economic development was impressive and promising.
