There are many challenges in the path of Bulgaria as an emerging economy and the sector that faces most of them is transport.

For this reason, Bulgaria’s only English-language weekly newspaper, The Sofia Echo, has decided to publish Moving Forward, a special supplement dedicated to the transport sector and its key sub-sectors.

While barely scratching the surface of an economy sector that is as large as it is important for any country on this planet, Moving Forward takes you on a walk through the business of shipping and forwarding firms, movers, express carriers, airlines and railroad operators, as well as those who provide vehicles for some of the mentioned businesses – vehicle manufacturers.

Bulgaria’s economy registered a growth of 5.5 per cent in 2005, which was one of the highest figures for the entire European continent. Meanwhile, the transport sector of the country lags behind the economy and, according to some experts, even impedes its development.

Bulgaria is a small country with a population of about 7.8 million people (according to official statistics) and it relies very much on international trade as the key means of its economic growth.

Bulgaria’s trade with the European Union, in which the country hopes to finalise its membership in 2007, is also dependent on the development of transport. The largely inland location of Bulgaria’s economic activities requires transport by road or rail; unfortunately these are the most problematic areas, where poor infrastructure is causing undeniable losses.

The unique location of Bulgaria in the Balkans, as a bridge between Europe and Asia and as an important destination for tourism and other economic activities, makes the development of transport a must. And this is where the efforts of both businesses and the state authorities are mainly focused now.

The development of the Bulgaria’s transport infrastructure depends on two main factors. First, the country’s geographic location is a vital one in a European context. Second, the capital Sofia is at the heart of the region, which determines its leading role in the transport network.

Bulgaria’s transport infrastructure is reasonably well developed, but has suffered from low spending and poor maintenance in recent years. The development of pan-European transport corridors (five of which pass through Bulgaria) should lead to a gradual improvement in communication routes.

The Sofia Echo hopes to be able, with this supplement, to raise the awareness of the English-speaking community of the importance of the transport sector. And, Moving Forward is dedicated to those businesses that, despite all hardships of transition, have been operating here and working for Bulgaria’s future as a transport hub in the Balkans and in Europe.