Almost half a billion BGN are the revenues from the operation of the toll system for the first six months of the year. This is clear from a report prepared by the Road Infrastructure Agency. BGN 290 million was collected from truck and bus tolls. Revenues from vignettes amount to BGN 155 million. Separately, there are revenues from sanctions for violations - over BGN 14 million. The amount includes fines and compensatory fees. Thus, a total of over BGN 459 million was collected for the half-year. From the beginning of the year to June 30, 3,088,633 e-vignettes were sold for BGN 154,856,580. The most preferred by drivers is the annual vignette, according to the traffic agency. 1,493,008 units have been purchased so far. They are also the most profitable for drivers, since for a day of use of the entire republican infrastructure, the toll is about 24 cents. After the annual vignettes, the weekly ones are the most purchased - 1,008,534 pcs., followed by weekend vignettes - 278,279 pcs., monthly ones - 260,645 pcs. and quarterly – 48,167 pcs. For the second year in a row, the prices of e-vignettes for passenger cars remain unchanged. The annual ticket is BGN 87, the quarterly ticket is BGN 48, the monthly ticket is BGN 27, the weekly ticket is BGN 13, and the weekend ticket is BGN 9.

In 2023, the number of first residence permits issued in Bulgaria to citizens of third countries with a validity of at least three months was 19,375, or 22.3 percent more than in 2022, the National Statistical Institute reported on its website. With the largest number of permits issued for the reason of "work" - 6466, followed by permits for family reasons - 6160. Residence permits of the type "EU Blue Card" are 924, which is 195 less compared to the previous year , which was the peak in terms of the number of such permits issued, according to a reference in the NSI. The least number of "blue cards" were granted in 2015 - 95. The issued long-term residence and work permits of the "Single permit for residence and work" type were 4,299. The residence and work permit of the "Blue Card" type is issued by the Ministry of internal affairs under the Law on foreigners in the Republic of Bulgaria and it is issued to citizens of third countries who apply for a residence permit for the purpose of work. These are people hired to exercise highly qualified employment under an employment relationship within the meaning of the Labor Code by a local employer.

5-member composition of the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC). decided that the "retaining wall" in the area of ​​Alepu near Sozopol was legally built, with which they canceled the act of the former acting regional minister Ivan Shishkov from the government of Gulab Donev. He refused to approve the project. The Supreme Court decided that his actions were illegal. The "Aleppo Village" project for the construction of a residential building with 90 holiday apartments will be completed, the investor company "Briz 2000" announced. According to the project, a large residential building with apartments will be built in the Aleppo area within two years, said Stoyan Vasilev from the project's investor company. "The preliminary consent has yet to be issued. We will submit documents to the Municipality of Sozopol to approve the projects and to issue a building permit. We start moving the documents. I hope we will have a building permit by the end of the year," he added. By the end of 2024, the investor company of the project will try to acquire the documents, including a building permit, for the completion of the large residential complex in the Aleppo area.

The official cabinet approved the withdrawal of an investment loan and state guarantees for it in the amount of BGN 625 million for the implementation of the Vertical Gas Corridor project. State guarantees have been requested by the Ministry of Energy, and they will be included in the budget for 2025. The loan will be drawn by the state company Bulgartransgaz. The investment project is for the expansion of the gas transmission infrastructure of "Bulgartransgaz" for the implementation of the Vertical Corridor initiative of the gas transmission operators of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine and Moldova. This will provide an opportunity to transfer additional volumes of natural gas, subject to of the legislation in the field of state aid. The projects are "Increasing the capacity for transmission of natural gas at the interconnection point Kulata-Sidirokastro in the direction from Greece to Bulgaria"; "Increasing the capacity for transmission of natural gas at the interconnection point Negru Voda-Kardam in the direction from Bulgaria to Romania" and "High-pressure gas transmission infrastructure to supply consumers in the Eastern Mariscia region".

The Bulgarian Minimart chain has had another shareholder since June - Trinity Capital has joined the company of four local serial investors. Formally, this happens through the acquisition of almost 14.3% in the company BGK, which develops the trade chain. The raising of the capital with 5 million euros gives another resource for the development of the chain, adding funds to the capital already provided by the first shareholders of 30 million euros. Now the issue value is 200 euros (BGN 391,166) for one share, against which the investor subscribes 25,000 new shares. Minimart is a Bulgarian chain of convenience stores with a sales area between 50 and 120 square meters, which opened its first store in March 2023. Behind the brand is the joint-stock company BGK with a team of serial investors such as Petar Dudolenski, Angel Angelov, Elvin Guri, Rosen Hadzhiev. Executive director is Dragia Dragiev, responsible for the expansion in Bulgaria of Billa, Pepco, malls. The company's strategy is to quickly build a national network of convenience stores with a partnership management model. The retail outlets are located as close as possible to the customers - to public transport stops, on busy pedestrian streets, to schools, universities, office, residential and public buildings. They offer over 2,000 products, 95% of which are prepackaged groceries, including the most popular fruits and vegetables, as well as coffee, hot dogs and toasted sandwiches, as well as cigarettes and alcohol. The selection of suppliers is made centrally, the contracts with them are for "net-net prices", i.e. no marketing fees, participation in brochures, etc. The chain's concept is a "complementary market" that facilitates those working, living and passing nearby. By the end of June 2024, or a little more than a year after its launch, Minimart has over 80 stores in Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Pazardzhik, Asenovgrad and Pernik. The plan of the investors is for the chain to have 150 locations by the end of the year and to enter new cities of the country. And at the end of 2025, there should be a total of 300 stores. The final goal is a chain of 500 sites with a turnover of BGN 300-400 million. So far, the plan is going well, with the expected revenue for this year being around BGN 40 million. The Trinity Capital company, founded five years ago, is the owner of retail parks and commercial areas, as well as boutique and investment properties. The company owns and operates over 80,000 square meters of retail space, and another 40,000 square meters are under construction in 2024 and 2025. The company owns four retail parks in Bulgaria - Jumbo Plaza, Retail Park Yambol, Retail Park Haskovo and G-Center Plovdiv, and in 2023 acquired in partnership with Petar Dudolenski and Angel Angelov the capital's Mega Mall. The main shareholder in "Trinity Capital" with a 61% share is Tencho Shikov, co-owner of the pharmaceutical company "Romfarm" and one of the largest owners of agricultural land in Bulgaria through "Staven" and several other companies. In "Trinity" he holds 61%, and the remaining 39% belongs to "GIS Properties", which is owned by Stoyan Kolev and his wife Bojana Koleva. Until last year, Georgi Georgiev, who was the chairman of the Metropolitan Municipal Council, and now a member of the GERB, also had a share in "GIS Property".

The chain of fitness centers Next Level wants to acquire its smaller rival Flys, according to a concentration application submitted for approval by the Commission for the Protection of Competition (CPC). Next Level Fitness Ltd. proposes to acquire the related companies Fitness Flys Corporation Ltd., Power Ronic Ltd., Happy Group 1 Ltd., Fitness Flys Pro Ltd., Fitness Flys Group Ltd., Flys Fit Ltd. and Fit Energy Ltd. Next Level currently owns 15 sites in Sofia. For its part, Flys has 16 sites. In the application to the CPC, permission is also requested for the acquisition of assets and replacement in tenancy relationships for the provision of sports, fitness and rehabilitation services from: "New Property Group" Ltd., "Happy Fit Group" Ltd., "Sugar 8" Ltd., "Rent" 357" Ltd.

For the first six months of 2024, the turnover of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) amounted to BGN 442 million and increased by as much as 72.33 percent compared to the same period last year, and the number of transactions increased by 32.52 percent. The turnover in June amounted to nearly BGN 86 million, which represents an increase of 27.72 percent compared to May. The transactions concluded during the month were 7,500, which is an increase of 32.52 percent with accumulation compared to the previous year and a decrease of 7.66 percent compared to May. In the BSE trade structure, the largest share of 22.06 percent (18.79 million BGN) is the turnover of the Premium segment, followed by the share of the turnover of the Standard shares segment - 21.25 percent (18.10 million BGN) and that of the MTF BSE International market, where shares of global companies are sold - 8.06 percent (BGN 6.87 million). On June 18, the general meeting of BSE shareholders was held, at which the proposal to increase the capital was voted. According to the adopted decision, 6,582,860 new shares will be issued, which will be distributed in a 1:1 ratio.

A second initial public offering of bonds will be held on the beam market of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE), where an application was received from "I LG" JSC (previously known as "Eurolease Group" JSC). The company will offer investors an issue of up to 5,000 ordinary, registered, non-current, freely transferable, interest-bearing, secured, non-convertible bonds, each with a nominal and issue value of 1,000 euros. Adviser on the issue is "Euro-Finance" JSC. The first primary public offering of bonds on the BSE-Sofia beam market was carried out by Logos Financial House exactly one year ago, raising just under BGN 5 million. The Eurolease Group company, together with Auto Union JSC, was part of the Eurohold Bulgaria group until almost two years ago, when both companies were sold to Asterion Bulgaria JSC, which is close to the group. "I LG" brings together an online platform for leasing, buying and renting used cars, an online platform for long-term car rental, a financial car leasing company, a car leasing company operating in North Macedonia. The company reports an individual loss of BGN 94 thousand for 2023 against an individual profit of BGN 570 thousand for 2022. The consolidated result for last year was a profit of over BGN 6.5 million against BGN 2.7 million year on year -early.

The managers of "Arco Towers" REIT, which specializes in investments in real estate, will negotiate with "Unicredit Bulbank" JSC to sign an investment loan agreement. A decision to empower the board of directors will be taken at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders scheduled for August 12. There, the terms of a draft contract for a combined bank loan will be discussed. It is about the sum of 14,980,000 euros. An investment limit of up to 13,980,000 euros and a revolving limit of 1,000,000 euros are foreseen. The investment limit will be used for partial financing/refinancing of the total costs excluding VAT for the construction and commissioning of building "E" and building "G" - stages 4 and 5, of the Central Park residential complex. The purpose of the revolving limit is to finance the payment of up to 100% of the VAT payable on the costs related to the construction and commissioning of the construction project. The deadline for repayment of the investment limit is up to 60 months from the date of conclusion of the loan agreement. The annual interest rate on the revised principal is equal to the 3-month EURIBOR plus a surcharge of 1.80%, but not less than 3.50%. For the revolving limit, the repayment must be made within 42 months under the same interest conditions. The collateral for the loan and each limit is Arco Towers REIT's own real estate (the project property). "Arco Towers" is a company with a special investment purpose for the securitization of real estate. It has been licensed by the Financial Supervision Commission since April 11, 2007.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has authorized the implementation of a digital services tax on major foreign technology companies despite warnings of retaliatory trade measures from the United States, Bloomberg writes. The tax came into effect on June 28 and will apply to calendar year 2024, with that first year covering taxable income generated from January 1, 2022. The tax imposes a 3% levy on digital service revenue that the company generates from Canadian consumers and exceed C$20 million (US$14.7 million) in a calendar year. It will only apply to companies with global annual revenues of more than C$1.1 billion. This will primarily affect large US firms, with Alphabet and Meta Platforms among those to be affected. American lawmakers and government officials consider the tax unfair and have threatened to take action if Canada decides to impose it anyway. The legislation, including the tax, was passed last month, but the government has not yet decided when it will come into effect. At least seven other countries, including the UK, France, Italy and Spain, already have similar taxes. Canadian officials estimated the tax would raise about C$7.2 billion over five fiscal years. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has commented that Canada will not introduce the tax if a global tax treaty is implemented through the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, but so far that treaty has not been ratified by the US.

Japan will face a shortage of almost a million foreign workers in 2040 if the country's government is to meet its growth targets. This was warned by local experts quoted by "Reuters". At current rates, Japan will have 5.91 million foreigners working in 2040, but the foreign labor force needs to be hundreds of thousands larger to maintain the target average annual growth rate of 1.24%, the research firm said a unit of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The gap between demand and supply of foreign labor has more than doubled compared to JICA's previous estimate in 2022, after researchers updated the data to take into account slower-than-expected economic growth in countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. It is from them that some of the migrants come. Foreign workers are critical to Japan's economy as they help fill a severe labor shortage caused by a rapidly aging and sharply declining birthrate. The number of foreign workers in Japan has more than quadrupled in the past 15 years, reaching 2.05 million people, or about 3 percent of the workforce, as of October last year. The government has extended work visa permits for a number of sectors and skilled occupations amid public opinion that is "softening" on the acceptance of immigrant labour. Experts believe that with obstacles including a weakening yen, traditionally low wages and human rights issues, Japan must step up its efforts to remain competitive in the global race for talent.