Ongoing discussions with the companies that showed investment interest in the project for building tunnel works under Shipka

Today, 23rd October 2009, the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Rosen Plevneliev and the European Commission delegation, led by the Commissioner for Regional Policy Paweł Samecki, visited the town of Gabrovo and other places in the region. They got acquainted with the three big infrastructure projects in the region that expect financing by the euro-funds – the construction of by-road near Gabrovo and the tunnel under the Mount of Shipka, the construction of the Mokra Byala dam near Sevlievo, and the finishing works of the Neikovtsi dam near Tryavna.
Minister Plevneliev underlined that there are three possibilities for financing the tunnel under Shipka. One of them is for an investor to start construction with his own financing. “We are having discussions with the companies that show interest, and if they agree to set off without the participation of the State -  we will give them green light”, the Minister explained. Another opportunity for the excavation works are to be financed by euro-funds when the Program starts in 2014. As a third opportunity the Minister pointed out that the project can be realized in the stead of a delayed project under the “Transport” Operational Program. The updating of the technical assignment of the tunnel under Shipka was planned in the budget of the “Road Infrastructure” Agency for 2010. He made it clear that the European Commission is well-disposed towards the tunnel construction, and if there are delayed projects and available resources – the realization can start right away.
The Minister said that the building up of the Neikovtsi dam will start within several months, as, with a Resolution of the Council of Ministers, the financing is secured by a state investment loan. For the Mokra Byala hydro-junction the possibilities for the project’s inclusion in the “Environment” Program are being discussed.
Minister Plevneliev, Euro-Commissioner Samecki and the experts from the European Commission’s Chief Directorate “Regional Policy” visited the “Akademik Ivan Gijuzelev” High School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, renovated with the help of over BGN 2.5 million under the “Regional Development” Operational Program, as well as the firms STS “Print” Joint Stock Company, “Vezna” Ltd. and “Terahim 97” Joint Stock Company, who have won projects under the Operational Program “Competitiveness”.
The delegation had conversations with the Governor of the Gabrovo region Mariyan Kostadinov, as well as the mayors of Gaborvo, Sevlievo, Tryavna and Dryanovo, and with the municipal counselors and representatives of the local administration. The Euro-Commissioner Samecki underlined that the goal of their visit is to hear about the problems and the offers that the local authorities can make, as the region of Gabroo has some successful achievement in the area of regional development, and the people of Gabrovo possess the spirit of entrepreneurship that must be encouraged. Some important conditions for the municipality’s development are the investment in the human capital and the support of the small- and middle-scale companies.