German and Polish oils, Romanian milk and cream, Greek cheeses and "yogurt" are sold in Bulgaria. There are also significant imports of dairy products from the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Serbia, according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for the last two years. It turns out that the largest importer of milk and dairy products in our country is Romania. Of the total of 166.5 thousand tons that arrived from abroad in 2022, 32.54 thousand tons were delivered precisely from our northern neighbor. Last year, total imports increased to 204.46 thousand tons, and Romanian dairy products in particular exceeded 44.4 thousand tons. In the first months of 2024, however, there is an interesting change - Hungary has overtaken Romania in sales in our country. While Romania is the leader in the import of milk and cream, Germany leads in the supply of concentrated and sweetened milk, as well as butter and milk spreads. Once again, Germany is the #1 importer of cheese and curds - with a total of over 37,500 tons last year. Poland and the Netherlands follow with 6.5-7 thousand tons each. Bulgaria also exports dairy products, but the volumes are modest compared to imports, and if we compare them to the years when dairy farming flourished. In 2023, our companies sold a total of 41 thousand tons of milk and milk products abroad. This is still an improvement on 2022, when exports were 6% lower. Bulgarian milk, cheeses, yellow cheeses, butter, cottage cheese, whey, etc. are traded in dozens of countries around the world - from North Macedonia and Kosovo to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Ivory Coast. However, our main markets are the EU countries, and the leading among them are two neighboring countries - Romania and Greece. The main income is from the export of cheese - BGN 121.5 million last year. For comparison, the export of sour milk, ayran, fermented milk has a total value of only BGN 16.5 million. Out of a total of 21,820 tons of Bulgarian cheese and cottage cheese sold abroad, 5,554 tons went to Greece, and 2,820 tons went to Romania. There are connoisseurs of our cheese in destinations such as Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan. Greece is the main market for Bulgarian milk and cream. 20% of the export of our yogurt and buttermilk went there.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide consulting assistance to the National Electric Company EAD (NEK) in preparation for the construction of two large pumped storage hydroelectric power plants. The two new renewable energy sources will use existing hydroelectric cascade dams and reservoirs near Batak and Dospat. They will act as large storage batteries storing green energy. This will provide NEK with flexible 24-hour and weekly management, rapid replacement of capacities in emergency situations and additional balancing services. The estimated value of each of the two power plants is around 900 million euros, they will enter into operation by 2032.

A total of 11 projects will receive funding under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan for the development of industrial zones located in ten cities - Ruse, Shumen (two industrial parks), Svishtov, Lovech, Sofia, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Targovishte and Sliven, and are worth nearly BGN 280 million, of which BGN 206.55 million will be provided free of charge. A total of 20 proposals with declared funding for BGN 383.9 million applied in the procedure. Out of the approved projects, three are on the reserve list, the others were rejected during the evaluation. The largest project is the "Industrial and Logistics Park - Burgas" - BGN 39.2 million. The company is owned by the Municipality of Burgas (32%) and the state "National Company of Industrial Zones" (68%). The funds are intended to develop the second phase of the park - the "South-West" Industrial Zone. A project for a total of BGN 34.6 million will be executed by "Prima Magna Group" for the supply and internal infrastructure of the "Targovishte" Industrial Park. The company, which was formerly called EnerSys and produced batteries for submarines, was acquired three years ago by Dimitar Popov's Rekocycling, which in turn is a majority shareholder in El Bat. Currently, "Recocycling" holds 33.93% of "Prima Magna Group", with the majority share of 65.86% owned by "Sportland", in which shareholders are "Resource Fund" (75%, in turn owned by "Sportland") and Petar Gospodinov (25%). The initial plans were for the project to be implemented by a consortium between "Prima Magna Group" and the municipal "BKS-Targovishte", which was specially renamed "BKS Industrial Park Targovishte", but now only the private company is named as the recipient of the funds. The project of the municipal "Svishtov Industrial Technology Park" is almost of the same value. It envisages the construction of the "Danube Industrial Technology Park - Svishtov", which will be located on the site of the former barracks in the city. A BGN 33.2 million project will be implemented by the "LVZ Industrial Park" in Ruse. It provides for reconstruction, rehabilitation and construction of new infrastructure on the field. The company is owned by Stanko Stankov's Bulmarket Group, which combines rail transport, fuel trade and production of biodiesel and vegetable oils through Astra Bioplant. The investment in the "Balkan" Industrial Park in Lovech is also private, which is estimated at BGN 29.2 million. The owners are the brothers Kiril and Georgi Domuschievi through "Napredak Holding", which acquired the former "Balkan" factory during the mass privatization in the 90s . A huge solar park with a capacity of 106.2 mW was built on the site a year ago, which has a license to operate as a closed power distribution network, and the aim is to supply future manufacturing plants. Also, a private company - "VN Investzon" will develop the "Vidin-South" park. The company is owned by "Anel General" (87.5%) and "Prestige Energy". Partners in "Enel General" are "Bel metal" - Belene, of Mincho Nedkov, which is engaged in construction, trade in metals and production of metal structures, and the Belgian EN Brussels, which is also owned by an individual. "Madara" in Shumen has a project worth BGN 26.6 million. The company most recently produced attached equipment for agricultural machinery, but has been practically inactive for ten years, maintaining only commercial activity. She will receive half of the required amount as grant funding. The value of the "Industrial Park Sliven" project, which is owned by the municipality, is just under BGN 20 million. The project has been in preparation for several years and is planned to be located on both sides of the former Bershen airport, and its area will reach a total of 2,700 decares, making it one of the largest industrial parks in the country. "Zagore Industrial Zone" in Stara Zagora will also receive funds for the development of the second stage of the park - to the village of Elenino. The project is worth BGN 17.4 million. Owners with 50% each are the municipality and "National Industrial Zones Company". In Sofia, the project "Industrial Park Rozhen 41", which is being developed by "Real Estates Development", has been approved. The company is owned by Dimitar Zelev through the company "Bulls", which holds 68% in "Industrial Holding Bulgaria". The smallest project - for BGN 4.5 million - belongs to the company "Shoumen Industrial Park Operator". It was created last year and is owned by Veska Dilova, and the subject of activity is management and maintenance of the internal infrastructure of the industrial park in the city. The park itself is owned by a joint venture between the private "Niki-BT" (60%) and the municipality.

The director of the National Revenue Agency (NAA) Rumen Spetsov announced that he had ordered inspections based on reports against the companies of Ivelin Mihailov, creator of the "Historical Park" and one of the faces of the "Velichie" party. These proceedings are being worked on, but there are no results yet. Spetsov stated that Mihailov's companies have accumulated tax liabilities. At the end of March, "Capital" announced that the Ministry of the Interior and the State Agency "National Security" (DANS) are conducting at least four investigations against "Historical Park".

A second plant for the production of concrete products is being built in Saedinenie "Rubikon beton" Ltd. The manager of the company, Stoicho Kardjaliyski, has submitted an investment proposal to RIOSP Plovdiv. The new enterprise will cover an area of ​​20,997 sq.m. on own land purchased last year. As a location, it will be directly opposite the first one, built in 2013. The plant will use zero-waste technology in the production of concrete products, and the technological equipment is from a leading company in the industry. According to the plan, 2000 square meters of finished products will be produced in 8 hours. As a basic product, concrete tiles with a height of 6-10 cm are accepted, which is between 120 and 200 cubic meters of concrete products in 8 hours. The design solution includes, in addition to the construction of the workshop, adjacent depots for inert materials, warehouses for finished products, a pumping station for circulating process water and sedimentation basins, roads and two residential buildings. Two years ago, the company introduced an innovation in the production of concrete products, by starting to add fly ash, which replaces part of the cement used. Ash is a residual and difficult to store product from coal plants.

The Express Service Ruse Locomotive Plant made a second modernized locomotive for the Stomana-Pernik enterprise. A Series 52 engine has been operating there for two years at the shunting. "This is the most successful and comprehensive modernization in the entire history of the successful and old V60 locomotives," says Express Service. With the implementation of the second locomotive, several goals will be achieved: Reduction by 99% of harmful emissions from railway shunting in "Stomana" and cleaner air for Pernik; More peace and quiet for the local communities living next to the Pernik plant; Multiple savings on diesel fuel – for sustainable railway maneuvering and energy independence. rusemedia

The Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) has approved the merger of Veta Pharma JSC into Sofarma JSC. The decision to merge Veta Pharma into the parent company was made by its board of directors in mid-January this year. At the time of initiation of the infusion procedure, Sopharma JSC owns 99.98% of the capital of Veta Pharma. "Veta Pharma" JSC is based in Veliko Tarnovo. The company produces disinfectants (ethyl alcohol, ethanol solution of iodine, rivanol, oxygen water, etc.), tinctures and tinctures, various types of cosmetic alcohols, talc, sodium benzoate, etc. products. The foundations of the company were laid in April 1950, when the Pharmacy Department was founded in Veliko Tarnovo. In 2010, the company invested in a new plant for the production of medicinal products. About 50 people work in the company. Sopharma acquired a 68% stake in Veta Pharma in 2016 and has since continued to expand its stake in the company. In recent years, Sopharma has merged Biopharm Engineering, Medica, and Unipharm. In the last year, the shares of "Sopharma" increased in price by over 23%, and the market capitalization reached nearly BGN 1.1 billion.

A total of BGN 1,521,116.96 of the net profit of Lavena JSC - Shumen for 2023 will be used to pay a dividend in the gross amount of BGN 0.03 per share. This was decided by the shareholders at the annual regular general meeting. Thus, the dividend is equal to the one paid out of the positive financial result for 2022. After the distribution, the remaining amount of the net profit in the amount of BGN 1,223,534.66 is treated as an additional reserve. Stella Yordanova was released as a member of the board of directors and Silvia Dishleva was elected in her place, for a term until June 15, 2026. "Lavena" JSC specializes in the production and trade in the country and abroad of perfumery-cosmetic and pharmaceutical products and essential oils, which is why the company's activity is directly related to the development and changes of the market of perfumery-cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. The company's production is mainly realized on the domestic market.

The Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) approved a prospectus for admission to trading on a regulated market of bonds issued by "Kambana Invest" EAD - Burgas. The issue is in the amount of EUR 18 million, divided into 18,000 non-current, registered, freely transferable, interest-bearing, secured, non-convertible, ordinary bonds, with a nominal value of EUR 1,000 each. The notes have a floating interest rate equal to the sum of 6-month EURIBOR and a premium of 1.50 per cent, but not less than 3 per cent and not more than 6 per cent, with an issue date of October 16 2023 and maturity date October 16, 2031.

Turnout in the latest European Parliament (EP) elections held last week has remained steady at just over 50 percent. However, there are large differences between individual countries, France Press summarizes. Voter turnout reached 51.01 percent - only slightly higher than in the previous Eurovote - in 2019, when it was 50.66 percent. The picture is much more positive than the trend at the beginning of this century, when between 40 and 50 percent of the electorate voted. The activity is still much lower than that of the first direct elections for the European Parliament - in 1979, when it reached almost 62 percent, according to AFP. The agency also notes the large differences between individual countries. Voter turnout was highest in Belgium (89.2 percent) and Luxembourg (82.3 percent). Voting in these two founding countries of the European Union is indeed mandatory, but this is not enough to explain the high level of civic awareness, AFP points out. Voting is also mandatory in Bulgaria and Greece, but there the turnout was only 33.8 percent and 41.4 percent, respectively. Activity was also high in Malta (73 percent), Germany (64.8 percent) and Hungary (59.3 percent). At the other extreme are Croatia, where only 21.3 percent of voters voted, and Lithuania (28.4 percent). Voter turnout increased the most in Hungary (up 15.9 percent), amid political polarization in the country and the emergence of a new strongman (Peter Magyar), followed by Cyprus (up 13.9 percent to 58.9 per cent), where the positive development is mostly associated with the "Phidias factor", named after a popular YouTuber, and Slovenia (up 12.6 percent to a record 41.4 percent). Many more people went to the polls in Slovakia as well - by 11.6 percent more to 34.4 percent. Traditionally one of the countries with the lowest turnout, it was rocked last month by the assassination of Prime Minister Robert Fizzo amid deep political and public polarization. The biggest drop in the share of voters was recorded in Lithuania - as much as 25.1 percent. Agence France-Presse made the stipulation that only 12 countries have provided final data, and those of the remaining 15 are still provisional.

The International Monetary Fund supports countries economically by providing financial assistance and policy guidance to increase stability, productivity and employment opportunities. It was created in 1944. Countries seek loans from the IMF when they need to deal with economic crises, stabilize their currency, or implement structural reforms and ease balance of payments difficulties. The 10 countries most indebted to the fund, according to data published in Visual Capitalist. The ranking uses the data of the International Monetary Fund for the total outstanding credit of the IMF. The data is current as of April 29, 2024. Argentina tops the ranking with a debt of USD 32 billion to the IMF, which is 5.3% of the country's GDP (USD 604.3 billion). The country has had debt problems since the late 1890s, when it defaulted after taking out debts to modernize the capital, Buenos Aires. It has already been bailed out over 20 times in the last six decades by the IMF. At the top of the ranking are Egypt, Ukraine, Pakistan and Ecuador. Five of the 10 most indebted countries are in Africa, while three are in South America. Ukraine is the only European country that relies on international support amid the conflict with Russia. It is believed that the war is at the root of the loss of a third of the country's economy. The country owes $9 billion to the IMF. In total, almost 100 countries are debtors to the IMF, and the total amount of all debts is 111 billion dollars. The top 10 of them account for about 69% of these debts.