site.btaWorld Bank to Advise Bulgaria’s Rail Infrastructure Company under New Agreement

The National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) of Bulgaria and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) signed a Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) Agreement aimed at strengthening the financial sustainability, operational efficiency and governance of the country’s railway infrastructure on Tuesday, the World Bank said on its website.

The agreement is described as an important step towards modernizing the railway sector and supporting Bulgaria’s broader economic and employment objectives.

Under the agreement, the World Bank will provide non-lending advisory support to NRIC, sharing international best practices in railway governance and financial sustainability and advising on workforce modernization, including skills optimization, reskilling and upskilling programmes. The aim is to align the company more closely with current and future needs and to help achieve long-term financial stability for NRIC.

“Modern, efficient and well-governed railway infrastructure is essential for Bulgaria’s economic growth and competitiveness. Through this partnership, the World Bank is committed to supporting NRIC in adopting international best practices, strengthening financial sustainability and modernizing its workforce. These efforts will not only improve service quality and operational performance but will also contribute directly to Bulgaria’s jobs agenda by fostering new skills, supporting workforce transitions and creating opportunities for sustainable employment in the rail sector,” World Bank Group Country Manager for Bulgaria Jason Brett Pellmar said.

The World Bank’s Reimbursable Advisory Services are non-lending advisory programmes under which the institution provides technical advice, analytical services and implementation support to clients, mainly in middle- and high-income countries, with the client reimbursing the Bank’s costs for these services. RAS programmes offer valuable assistance in the design, planning and implementation of complex reforms. They are flexible and tailored to each country’s specific needs and can include policy advice, analytical and diagnostic work, donor coordination, impact evaluation, implementation support, training, knowledge sharing and peer learning.

The World Bank’s Reimbursable Advisory Services (RAS) are advisory programmes under which the financial institution provides technical advice, analytical services and policy implementation support to clients, mainly in middle- and high-income countries, with the client reimbursing the Bank’s costs for these services. Reimbursable Advisory Services offer valuable assistance in the design, planning and implementation of complex reforms. They are flexible and tailored to each country’s specific needs, and can include policy advice, research and diagnostic work, donor coordination, impact assessment, implementation support, training, knowledge sharing and joint learning.

On 26 November 2025 the Council of Ministers approved a draft Consulting Services Agreement between the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NRIC) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The project is explicitly described as aiming to improve the efficiency of Bulgaria’s railway sector and is to be financed under the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021–2027. The RAS agreement with the World Bank is part of a wider programme to reform NRIC, align Bulgarian rail infrastructure with EU standards, and secure EU-funded investments under the Transport Connectivity Programme.