Sandanski Industrial Zone

Sandanski Industrial Zone

At the initiative of Alexander Manolev in 2017 a Memorandum for the construction of an Industrial zone – Sandanski was signed between the National Company “Industrial Zones” and the Municipality of Sandanski.

This is a project that, according to many experts, has huge potential. This industrial zone will be located:

– 500 km. from 9 European capitals and the largest city in Europe – Istanbul.
– 2 hours drive / or about 170 km. from the economic centers:

  • To Bulgaria – Sofia;
  • In northern Greece – Thessaloniki;
  • To the Republic of Northern Macedonia – Skopje.

It is located on the Pan-European Transport Corridor IV and is at the crossroads of two border checkpoints: with Greece and with the Republic of Northern Macedonia.

It can offer a highway connection to the port of Thessaloniki and is directly connected to the main railway line Sofia – Thessaloniki.

An additional plus for the project is the forthcoming completion of the Struma Motorway, which will allow for a quick connection with Sofia, Belgrade and Western Europe.

SME Enterprises

SME Enterprises

As a line deputy minister, Alexander Manolev initiated regular meetings with representatives of small and medium enterprises and their organizations to discuss operational issues and tools for the development of their activities.

The problems for business were discussed during the meetings; European funding opportunities; supporting exports and representation in foreign markets; introducing innovations and improving competitiveness.

Officials from other institutions and organizations also took part in the meetings.

The work in support of Bulgarian micro, small and medium enterprises was upgraded at a number of forums and specialized events. In 2017, for the first time, eBay held its annual event in an Eastern European country, and Deputy Minister Manolev was the only representative of the Bulgarian institutions who was invited to take part in it.

The children of Sandanski

The children of Sandanski

In 2017, on the initiative of Alexander Manolev, the “Children of Sandanski” campaign was launched. The initiative aims to highlight and encourage children who have shown talent, won prestigious places in Bulgaria and abroad and to encourage others to follow in their footsteps.

In its first edition, awards were given to children and young people from the Мunicipality of Sandanski who have achieved significant results in competitions or contests in the field of science, sports or art. For the official award ceremony in Sandanski was the world star in professional boxing Daisy Lang.

In 2018, the initiative was addressed to all children from the Municipality of Sandanski. In the last week before the Christmas holidays (December 14 – 20), there was a movie screening every day, where children and young people from the Municipality of Sandanski entered completely free of charge. The only condition was to prove with a document (ID card, student book, notebook, etc.) that they are not more than 18 years old and that they were born, study or attend kindergarten/school in the Municipality of Sandanski.

Hundreds of children are covered by the initiative, which has the ambition to continue to develop and build.

In the presence of the President of Bulgaria, Alexander Manolev opened a bilateral business forum in Qatar

In the presence of the President of Bulgaria, Alexander Manolev opened a bilateral business forum in Qatar

Our trade with the State of Qatar has increased fivefold in recent years. This trend shows interest and potential, although the levels reached are still unsatisfactory. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev during the opening of a bilateral business forum in Doha. The official opening of the event was attended by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and the Minister of Trade and Industry of Qatar Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari.

Bulgaria and Qatar will exchange experiences and direct investors to their industrial zones. An Agreement on Cooperation was signed between the National Company “Industrial Zones” and the Qatar Free Zones in the presence of Deputy Minister Manolev. He also spoke with the organization’s chairman, Ahmad Al-Sayed. The two agreed to organize reciprocal technical visits to the areas in order to identify specific projects to deepen the partnership.

Deputy Minister Manolev is in Qatar at the head of a business delegation including over 30 Bulgarian companies. The visit is part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev to the Lebanese Republic and the State of Qatar.

Alexander Manolev talks in Lebanon with the State Minister for Foreign Trade and the Minister of Telecommunications

Alexander Manolev talks in Lebanon with the State Minister for Foreign Trade and the Minister of Telecommunications

Bulgarian companies can apply for infrastructure projects worth over $ 7 billion to be implemented in the Lebanese Republic. This became clear during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev and Minister of Telecommunications and Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Lebanon Mohammad Shukair. Funding for them is from the so-called CEDRE Conference (CEDRE) and will be launched in the near future.

Bulgaria will support Lebanon with expertise in the field of small and medium enterprises, management of industrial zones and investment promotion. This was agreed between Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev and Minister of State for Foreign Trade Hassan Mrad. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries is to be prepared and signed in the second half of 2019. Actions to promote bilateral exports were also discussed.

Deputy Minister Manolev is in Lebanon leading a business delegation including 30 Bulgarian companies. The visit is part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev to the Lebanese Republic.

Official opening of a bilateral business forum in Lebanon

Official opening of a bilateral business forum in Lebanon

Lebanese companies have invested more than 40m euros in Bulgaria since 2008. These statistics were presented by Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev during a bilateral business forum in Beirut. The official opening of the event was attended by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and the Minister of Telecommunications and Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Lebanon Mohammad Shukair.

“In 2018, trade between Bulgaria and Lebanon is worth $ 175 million, which is an increase of over 20%,” said Deputy Minister Manolev. Imports from Lebanon have more than doubled, and Bulgarian exports exceed $ 80 million. e. “We see a prospect for increasing the export of Bulgarian goods,” said Alexander Manolev. According to him, trade should not lead us forward in our bilateral economic relations. “We must work to exchange experience in strategic areas, to launch long-term partnerships to enter third markets and, last but not least, to encourage investment between our two countries,” said the Deputy Minister of Economy.

Alexander Manolev is in Lebanon at the head of a business delegation including over 30 Bulgarian companies. The visit is part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev to the Lebanese Republic.

 

Deputy Minister Alexander Manolev was the official guest at the opening of a new investment of BGN 5 million in the town of Sandanski

Deputy Minister Alexander Manolev was the official guest at the opening of a new investment of BGN 5 million in the town of Sandanski

Over BGN 10 million have been invested in the hotel infrastructure of the town of Sandanski in the last 2 years. This was announced by Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev during the opening of the expansion of the Pirin Park Hotel.

“In recent years, we have seen steady growth in the tourism sector, and every year the hotels in the municipality welcome more and more tourists,” said Deputy Minister Manolev. According to him, most tourists mean not only turnover for large hotels, but also more money in the local economy. “The opening of more accommodation is a step towards fulfilling our strategic goal – to establish Sandanski as a year-round tourist destination with an average length of stay of tourists of at least 5 nights,” he said.

Alexander Manolev also honored the memory of the owner of the hotel Stefan Sharlopov, who was not only the engine of the project, but also worked for the establishment of Sandanski as one of the best places for spa tourism in Bulgaria.

The event was attended by the mayor of Sandanski Kiril Kotev, municipal councilors, mayors of settlements, representatives of the Union of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs and others.

In Egypt, Alexander Manolev met with Dr. Mohammed Saeed al-Assar, Minister of State for Military Production

In Egypt, Alexander Manolev met with Dr. Mohammed Saeed al-Assar, Minister of State for Military Production

Improving the partnership in the field of defense and military-industrial production was discussed during a meeting of Deputy Minister Alexander Manolev with the Minister of State for Military Production Dr. Mohammed Saeed al-Assar and with Lieutenant-General Abdel Moneim Al-Terras, Chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization.

Opportunities for strategic partnership and identification of areas for exchange of know-how were discussed during the meeting. Alexander Manolev emphasizes the opportunities of the private and public sector in the field of defense industry in Bulgaria.

Deputy Minister Manolev is in Egypt heading a business delegation including 40 Bulgarian companies. The visit is part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev to the Arab Republic of Egypt.

 

Meeting with the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sahar Nasr

Meeting with the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sahar Nasr

2017 was a record year for trade relations between Bulgaria and Egypt. Tthis was emphasized during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev and Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt. They also took part in the opening of a bilateral business forum, which brought together more than 100 companies in Cairo yesterday.

During the conversation, the Bulgarian Deputy Minister stressed that in 2018 there is a retreat in bilateral trade, so the main goal of the business forum and visit to Egypt is to identify measures to resume the positive trend and launch new projects between businesses. “I believe that the business forum is a very good opportunity to exchange information and to launch specific projects between companies on both sides,” said Deputy Minister Manolev.

Alexander Manolev is in Egypt heading a business delegation including nearly 40 Bulgarian companies. The events are part of the official visit of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev to the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Alexander Manolev meets with the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Alexander Manolev meets with the Minister of Trade and Industry of the Arab Republic of Egypt

Bulgaria can expand its presence on the Egyptian market with goods from the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as products with high added value. This was emphasized by Deputy Minister Manolev during his meeting with The Minister of Trade and Industry Amr Nassar.

They agreed to carry out works and organize an Egyptian business delegation to visit Bulgaria and get acquainted with the possibility of investing in Bulgarian industrial zones. The Egyptian side is also interested in exchanging experience in the field of automotive and mechanical engineering.

Deputy Minister Manolev is part of the delegation of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev during his visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt.