site.bta Bulgarian Economy, Energy Ministers Attend Energy and Economic Summit of Atlantic Council in Istanbul

Bulgarian Economy, Energy Ministers Attend Energy and Economic Summit of  Atlantic Council in Istanbul

Sofia, November 20 (BTA) - Bulgarian Economy Minister Bozhidar
Loukarski and Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova attended  the
7th Energy and Economic Summit of the Atlantic Council in
Istanbul, said their Ministries Friday. The event brought
together over 600 opinion-makers of 40 countries and was
inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Energy Minister Petkova said that a final investment decision on
 construction of the Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnector will be
signed December 10.

In her remarks during a discussion on the Energy Union held as
part of the forum, she said that the Bulgarian government
continues to work on one of its key priorities: diversifying the
 sources and routes for supply of natural gas. Other
participants in the discussion noted that Bulgaria is of
critical importance for energy security in the region of
Southeast Europe.

The US Special Envoy and Coordinator on International Energy
Affairs, Amos Hochstein, commended the progress the Bulgarian
government has made with the Greece interconnector project. 
Petkova said that hard work also continues on the
Bulgaria-Serbia gas interconnector project.

On the sidelines of the forum, Petkova held a working meeting
with the Ukrainian Minister of Energy and Coal Industry,
Volodymyr Demchyshyn, and discussed with him matters of shared
interest for the energy sectors of the two countries.

Addressing the forum, the Economy Minister Loukarski underscored
 the fine relations that Bulgaria has with the other countries
in Southeast Europe, the potential of the region and the
importance of stability for growth.
 
He spoke of the priorities of the ruling majority in Bulgaria -
fighting corruption, ensuring transparency in the expending of
public funds, optimizing the work of the state administration,
among others. He said that corruption remains one of the most
serious stumbling blocs for attracting more foreign investment
in Bulgaria and the region as a whole - which is why it needs to
 be addressed with joint efforts.

The participants in the forum discussed the opportunities for
implemening key infrastrucure projects.