H.E. Ms. Liliyana Pavlova, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Republic of Bulgaria

During the second day of the Southeast Europe Business Forum was held the session “Regional Transport Projects. Improving the Business Climate by Investing in Modern Transport. Role of the Governments and Оpportunities for PPPs”. The panel gathered at one place distinguished panelists from the governments and the business in SEE countries. The discussion was facilitated by Mr. Guido Paolucci, Programme Manager EBRD-CEI. H.E. Ms. Liliyana Pavlova, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Bulgaria presented the priorities in developing strategic infrastructure projects until 2020. The Minister revealed more details regarding the planned investments for the next programme period 2014-2020 under Operational Programme Regional Development (EUR 473 mln) and Operational Programme Transport (EUR 3 133 mln). Another key moment from the speech was the information that the Bulgarian government is considering inviting investors to help it develop an electronic system for truck tolls. The project will be developed on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. The tolling system is most likely to be introduced first on the planned highway between Ruse, on the Danube, and Svilengrad, on the Turkish border, for which Bulgaria is holding talks with Qatar. However, this is unlikely to happen in less than three or four years, as the implementation of such a big investment project takes time, Minister Pavlova said. Other major infrastructure projects for which the country is seeking for investors are speedway Rila and Black Sea Motorway. The Chairman of the Road Infrastructure Agency, Mr. Lazar Lazarov delivered a presentation with more details regarding the upcoming infrastructure projects in the next programme period.   

Representatives of the Serbia in this session were Prof. Nenad Ivanisevic, Special Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Regional Development and Local Self Government, Serbia and Мr. Dejan Lasica, Minister Assistant for Railway and Intermodal Тransport, Ministry of Transport, Serbia. They presented the master plan for development of the transport sector in Serbia for 2010 - 2027. Among the major projects is the Pan-European Transport Corridor 10. The EBRD and EIB are source of financing for the planned infrastructure projects in the country. One of the key projects that Mr. Lasica presented was the construction of intermodal terminal in Batajnica which is expected to be supported by EU funding. The future intermodal terminal will have a direct connection with Corridor 10 and with the railway station in Batajnica. Closed to the terminal is planned the construction of logistic center. 

The representatives of EBRD (Mr. Michael Davey, Director, EBRD Turkey), IFC (Mr. Martin Spicer, Manager, Southern Europe, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, IFC) and Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (Mr. Orhan Aytemiz, Director General Industries, BSTDB) presented the difficulties facing the funding of transportation projects and the benefits of public-private partnerships. Major projects that have been funded by these institutions were considered during the discussion.

Mr. Spicer included in his speech the IFC Infrastructure Strategy Southeastern Europe:

• Improvement of the basic infrastructure in the region for economic growth;

• Promotion of the infrastructure management - preferably in private ownership and financing good municipalities for their urban infrastructure

• Promotion of the integration of economies

• Support for regional companies

Mr. Erich Cossutta, the President of Confindustria Serbia delivered a presentation under the title “Sea Port Development” sharing as a good example for model of growth Port of Koper, Slovenia.

Mr. Antonio Monaco, Business Development Chief Officer, Todini Costruzioni Generali Spa (Salini Group) shared with the audience the worldwide experience of Salini Group with special focus on EBRD countries of operations.

Mr. Michael Davey, Director, EBRD Turkey

Mr. Martin Spicer, Manager, Southern Europe, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, IFC