21.03.2013

Energy efficiency for households and businesses, as well as strengthening the export potential of small and medium sized enterprises remain the priority areas of the cooperation between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Bulgaria. That became clear at the meeting between the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Board of Governors of EBRD Kalin Hristov and Toshiyuki Furui, Director for Japan at the Bank. The Finance Minister presented the objectives of the Caretaker Government in the short term noting that it worked under a budget adopted by the National Assembly and would stick to the parameters provided therein. Minister Hristov stated that among the most important topics on the agenda at the moment was to maintain the country's fiscal stance and to take measures to address the challenges in the energy sector.

During the meeting Toshiyuki Furui emphasized that the EBRD appreciated Bulgaria's financial stability and its good macroeconomic indicators. The discussion wherein participated also Stefka Slavova, Director for Bulgaria at the Bank, touched on the current EBRD projects in Bulgaria and the opportunities for improving the business climate and to tackle the demographic crisis.