Around 60-km-long stretches of highways will be constructed and commissioned this year in Bulgaria, announced Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev before the participants in a forum entitled Development of Transport Infrastructure in Bulgaria for 2006-2015 – Problems, Challenges, Strategic Planning. The forum was organized by the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) and was attended by Regional Development Minister Assen Gagauzov, Minister of Transport Petar Mutafchiev, Economy and Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov, Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski, PMs and business representatives.

Speaking before the participants in the discussion, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev underlined that government and business together should draft the priorities in the infrastructure and seek funding mechanisms during the 4-year term of office. A strong instrument towards the implementation of infrastructure projects in the next years will become Public-Private partnership. It has proved successful in the EU and will be indispensable for Bulgaria in achieving our priorities, the Premier added. Another potential resource is the European funds that Bulgaria can have the use of after 2007.

Prime Minister also informed the participants in the forum that in the spring the government will adopt the National Development Plan for Bulgaria covering the period 2007-2013. The plan will outline the major priorities in different infrastructure sectors. At the forum BIA’s experts also presented their vision for infrastructure development in Bulgaria.