Boiko Borissov to push investments in Bulgaria's north-west
About 4.7 million leva will be allocated to Vidin municipality for the complete overhaul of the Panonia Blvd after Prime Minister Boiko Borissov promised that funds will be made available for the project, Dnevnik daily reported on May 16 2011.
While in Vidin, Borissov also visited the construction site of Danube Bridge 2 to assess its progress.
Apart from the new link between Bulgaria and Romania across the Danube River, however, there are other schemes to provide for further investments to patch up the dilapidated infrastructure in the region.
The project for the rehabilitation of the boulevard was prepared two years ago. Borissov and Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov, who embraced the initiative for the project, said the finances needed for the reconstruction of the boulevard and the adjacent overpass will be made available.
During the inspection of the Danube 2 bridge, Borissov was accompanied by the Director General for Regional Policy of the European Commission, Dirk Ahner, Minister for EU Funds Management Tomislav Donchev, Finance Minister Dyankov and Deputy Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski.
Borissov also used the opportunity to appeal to Spanish company FCC in charge of the bridge's construction, by urging them to maintain their schedules and high quality standard, Dnevnik reported.
"I am convinced that today, in the presence of Mr. Ahner, we have here a very strong friend who will persuade his European counterparts that we have to support the development of this region of Bulgaria," Borissov said.
To that effect, Ahner agreed that investments in the region are essential.
"This is a very beautiful part of Bulgaria. This bridge, along with the other infrastructure projects of which I have been informed, will give a great impetus to economic and social development here," Ahner said, adding that it was important for infrastructure to be developed, as there were "many German and Austrian companies which are interested in investing here, under the Danube strategy".
The Bulgarian northwest is the most impoverished part of the country, according to Eurostat statistics released in February 2011.
Bulgaria's northwest region, with 28 per cent of the EU's average GDP, was ranked bottom of the table. The north-central (30 per cent of the average), south-central (30 per cent of the average). The south-east and north-east (36 and 37 per cent respectively) were just above. The south-west, which includes the capital city Sofia, ranked much higher, with 73 per cent of the EU average.
Text source: sofiaecho.com
Photo: Assen Tonev
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