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Balkan Business Forum

Customs Agency Chief Outlines Plans to Expand Border Infrastructure at Balkan Business Forum

Metodi Yordanov, BTA correspondent Desislava Velkova
Customs Agency Chief Outlines Plans to Expand Border Infrastructure at Balkan Business Forum
Customs Agency Chief Outlines Plans to Expand Border Infrastructure at Balkan Business Forum
Customs Agency head Shushkov addresses the Balkan Business Forum, June 12, 2026 (BTA Photo/Krassimir Nikolov)
Bansko, Southwest Bulgaria,  
12.06.2026 15:40
 (BTA)

Bulgaria plans to modernize and expand border infrastructure, including the construction of a new border crossing and upgrades to existing facilities, Customs Agency Director Nikolay Shushkov said at the Balkan Business Forum in Bansko on Friday.

Shushkov described Turkiye as Bulgaria’s largest trading partner outside the European Union and said this country needs to develop its infrastructure to double the capacity of the three border crossings between the two neighbouring countries. 

He said the number of vehicles crossing the Bulgarian-Turkish border increased by 120% between 2019 and the end of 2025. The Kapitan Andreevo-Kapikule crossing, which he described as Europe’s largest land border customs checkpoint, handled 11 million passengers and 4 million vehicles in 2025, including more than 1 million heavy goods vehicles.

According to Shushkov, around 3,000 trucks cross the border daily, with waiting times often ranging from 24 to 72 hours.

To address congestion, the Government is accelerating the reconstruction of the Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint to improve infrastructure and streamline customs procedures. He also announced plans for a new border crossing, tentatively named Kapitan Andreevo 2, which would handle all heavy goods traffic.

Shushkov said the government also intends to strengthen transport corridors and rail connectivity with Turkiye, including a planned railway link between Yambol and Edirne and upgrades to the road between Yambol and Lesovo. Expansion of the Lesovo border checkpoint is also envisaged.

He added that Bulgaria was considering the construction or expansion of border crossings with Serbia and North Macedonia as part of broader efforts to improve regional connectivity and facilitate trade. 

The Balkan Business Forum is organized by the Bulgarian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkiye in Bulgaria, Foreign Economic Relations Board, the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and the Bulgarian Investment Agency.

The main topics of discussion include transport, logistics and industrial ecosystems; technologies and artificial intelligence as a driver of competitiveness; opportunities for Balkan economic cooperation; investments and industrial growth in Bulgaria.

/MY/

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By 01:33 on 21.07.2026 Today`s news

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