Economy Briefs

Choose Bulgarian!
Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) account for 99 per cent of the Bulgarian economy and attract 67 per cent of the investment made in this country, Deputy Economy and Energy Minister Luchezar Borissov said on April 7 at the opening of the seventh edition of the “Choose Bulgarian!” exhibition. Borissov cited a pan-European survey showing that Bulgaria ranks sixth in positive expectations of the development of the business environment in 2006. More than 350 SMEs from across the country, mainly from the lighting industry, took part in the exhibition at the National Palace of Culture. This year’s edition, which continues till April 17, has a Regional Development Hall where nine municipalities present their development by structure, economy, tourism, infrastructure, project programmes, prospects and difficulties.

More Tourists
Between nine and 10 per cent more tourists are expected at the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach this summer season, tour operators said on April 6. Most of the tourists spending their holidays at Sunny Beach are from Germany. This year their number is expected to increase by 12.1 per cent along the southern Black Sea coast and 46.7 per cent along the northern Black Sea coast. The number of British tourists is expected to increase by 50 per cent. Some of the hotels are been 100 per cent already booked for the entire season.
Sunny Beach is the largest Bulgarian seaside resort. This year the tourist season starts on May 4, when the first tourists from Germany are expected to arrive.