site.btaDeputy PM Poulev Vows Major Investment Boost in Stara Zagora Under National Recovery Plan

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investment and Industry Alexander Poulev held a meeting with the Mayor of Stara Zagora Zhivko Todorov and the Regional Governor Kaloyan Damyanov, which took place in the southern city. They discussed investments in the region and possibilities to accelerate them, Poulev's ministry reported on Saturday.

The Deputy PM said: "We have three months to save EUR 3 billion under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan, and we are working actively with Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov to achieve this national goal."

Regarding Stara Zagora, he stated firmly that there are 33 contracts for energy efficiency and building insulation, as well as newly approved projects worth nearly EUR 300 million that are yet to be implemented. "More than 200 additional projects are about to be assessed, and a commitment has been made for this to happen as quickly as possible so that they can reach their beneficiaries," Poulev noted. He added that for people it is important to see quick results that improve quality of life and households' and businesses' access to resources.

The need to develop the industrial zones, the airport, the logistics environment and high-tech production was also discussed. Delayed procedures were addressed as well, with emphasis that full statistics are being kept, constant monitoring is in place, and measures are being taken to accelerate progress.

According to the participants in the meeting, key factors for the region's development include infrastructure, transport connectivity and energy security. Attention was also given to the possibility of activating significant financial resources under public contracts and European instruments, and to the need for projects to be developed to a level at which they can be defended before EU institutions.

"The deadlines are very ambitious, but we cannot afford to lose these funds under the national Recovery and Resilience Plan. There is substantial funding directed to Stara Zagora, and these funds are for the industrialization of the region," Poulev underlined.

He noted that more than EUR 600 million will be available through the Fund of Funds under the Just Transition mechanism, and an additional EUR 300 million focused on the transformation of energy regions.

Poulev's meeting was in line with the policies for the long-term development of Stara Zagora, the stabilization of the economic environment and the creation of conditions for sustainable growth and investment in the region.

He stressed that his first visit outside Sofia since assuming office was precisely to Stara Zagora. He thanked the citizens for their support and assured them that a full set of measures is already being implemented to improve living standards, the environment for Bulgarian producers and business conditions.