Construction companies completed work on more than 12 000 new buildings in the past year throughout Bulgaria, data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) shows. In 2005, 384 more buildings than in the previous year were completed, mediapool.bg reported. Most new buildings are located in the Bourgas region. Tendencies show that the Black Sea city will become leader in the construction rate and number of apartments released on the property market, the NSI data shows. In 2005 Bourgas authorities issued 438 construction permits. Varna remains second based on its construction rate. The city's property market offered nearly 2000 new apartments in 2005. Bulgaria's capital is third based on construction activities. Construction companies are showing interest in other bigger cities throughout the country. Blagoevgrad, Veliko Turnovo, Pazardjik and Shoumen are among the cities, which offer new property. A sharp increase in the construction rate occurred in Shoumen, where 77 new buildings were completed in 2005. In 2004 their total number is 24. http://www.sofiaecho.com(07.03.2006)