An increasing number of Russian companies were interested in investment in production in Bulgaria, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said during a round-table discussion on the future of the trade and economic relations between Russia and Bulgaria.

The possibility to sell products in the EU market was the reason for the Russian companies’ interest, he said, as quoted by Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

Russian investment in Bulgaria was $300 million.

Stanishev highlighted the South Stream gas pipeline to be built by Bulgaria, Russia, Italy and Greece. Bulgaria could become an energy centre on the Balkans by taking part in the project, he said.

Russia’s former prime minister Yevgeni Primakov said that Russia was the second biggest trade partner of Bulgaria, after Germany. Trade relations between Russia and Bulgaria could improve further, he said.