site.bta German Company Opens Vehicle Air-conditioner Factory near Sofia

German Company Opens Vehicle Air-conditioner Factory near Sofia

Sofia, May 20 (BTA) - The German Behr-Hella Thermocontrol
company Wednesday unveiled a plant in Sofia's Bozhourishte
industrial zone. The company's investment is for the greenfield
construction of a high-tech production and development centre
for the management, use and regulation of automobile air
conditioning and heating systems, as well as elements for the
management of engine cooling systems. The investment is the
first in the zone and exceeds 40 million leva. The plant
currently has 120 employees.

The unveiling was attended by President Rosen Plevneliev who
expressed gratitude to the investors for believing in Bulgaria.
He underscored the dynamics of economic relations between
Bulgaria and Germany as trade exchange has multiplied sevenfold
in the last ten years. Today Germany is Bulgaria's largest
trading partner, there is a new wave of German investments here,
 Plevneliev pointed out. He also remarked on the development of
the Bulgarian motor vehicle cluster, established three years
ago, which is a dynamically developing organization today with
new factories and new jobs.

The German Ambassador to Bulgaria Detlef Lingemann pointed out
that a successful investment attracts new investments. He noted
that Bulgaria's great advantage for investments is its EU
membership, as well as other positive factors, which make it
attractive, although there are still things on which work should
 be done. Reforms are required in order to fulfil the economic
potential which the Bulgarian EU-membership brings, the diplomat
 said.

Economy Minister Bozhidar Loukarski underscored the fact that
Bulgaria managed to outstrip seven other countries in Eastern
Europe for the investment, which proves this country's
potential.

Thomas Schulte, Commercial Managing Director of the German
company, said that the excellent support it had received from
the Bulgarian government and local authorities, as well as the
qualified Bulgarian workers, led them to decide to invest in
Bulgaria.

The company plans to have a turnover of up to 200 million leva
in the next 4-5 years, employ 500 workers and make additional
investments for over 50 million leva.