site.btaUPDATED Four State-Owned Companies Sign Grant Agreements with United States Trade and Development Agency

Grant agreements between four Bulgarian state-owned companies and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) were signed in the presence of caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev at the Council of Ministers on Friday, the government press service said.

USTDA will support Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD, State Enterprise Radioactive Waste, National Railway Infrastructure Company, and Information Services EAD to improve energy, transportation, and cyber security processes in public administration.

Caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, Transport and Communications Minister Krasimira Stoyanova, e-Government Minister Valentin Mundrov, US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten were among the officials attending the signing ceremony.

On behalf of USTDA, the agreements were signed by USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong.

The caretaker government's press service said that cooperation between Bulgaria and USTDA is key to the success of this country's energy transformation, the modernization of its transport sector and cyber protection in the work of the public administration.

US Ambassador Kenneth Merten said at the ceremony that his country highly values its partnership with Bulgaria and and is strongly committed to cooperate. He pointed out that among the projects to be implemented are those to ensure safe storage of spent nuclear fuel, increase cyber protection for Bulgarian citizens, and support the development of the country's railway infrastructure. 

USTDA Director Enoh T. Ebong  that the signing of the agreements is a special moment as it is rare for four agreements to be signed on the same day and with the same country.

She said that a roadmap will be created together with the Bulgarian government for the implementations of the projects. This is a new step in a long fruitful cooperation.