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issue 64 november 2005 Parvanov Met Bush AmCham Interviews: Analysis: AmCham Events: President Georgi Parvanov Sofia’s New Mayor Real Estate Committee Atanas Paparizov, MP EU Annual Report CSR Committee Launch American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria Business Park Sofia, Mladost 4 Area, Building 2, Floor 6, 1715 Sofia Tel.: (359 2) 9769 565 Fax: (359 2) 9769 569 homepage: www.amcham.bg e-mail: [email protected] editorial Dear Members and Friends, Dear Reader, There were two political events in You, just like me, are perhaps surprised by the mayoral October that made the top news choice of Sofia voters. Yes, it's true - during the next year for Bulgaria: the visit of President and a half the Bulgarian capital will be ruled by a general. Purvanov to US and his meeting If Bulgaria was not in Europe, but in South America, inter- with President Bush and the national news agencies might be commenting that a mili- issuance of the monitoring report tary junta had taken over. of the European Commission on the progress of Bulgaria to its We are in luck, though, that the democratic processes in fully fledged membership in EU. our country are flourishing under the supervision of the It is clear however that strength- European Union and our NATO partners. The election of ening the relations with US is as a general to the mayor's seat has been regarded as an important for Bulgaria as its EU exotic decision of Sofianites, so let us congratulate Gen. membership. Boyko Borisov with his success. He received his new posting legally and undisputedly. The meeting between President Purvanov and President Bush is a new momentum in US-Bulgaria relations. Both presidents I think our readers who have come to Bulgaria recently or have not paid much marked that both United States and Bulgaria have common inter- attention to Bulgarian politics deserve a more detailed explanation why the city ests in stability and peace in the world and face many of the where Bulgarian democracy was born made such a strange choice. In a word, same challenges. These interests are the interests of EU as well the culprit is the low voter turnout (see more on Page 14). A distinct pattern and the values that both sides of the Atlantic share are the same. emerged at the polls. But besides the common values in democracy and common You may have noticed that Sofia is, in effect, two cities. One comprises areas interests in security Bulgaria and the United States have common you all know well: the large, flashy downtown office buildings and banks; streets economic interests. And that was clearly shown at the lunch that where the Hilton, Sheraton, Grand Hotel Sofia, Radisson are located; the President Purvanov had with representatives of leading US cor- 'embassy row' by the Doctors' Square and down Oborishte Street, Boulevard porations and business circles in Washington D.C. The priority Russki, the 'yellow cobblestones'; Sofia Business Park; the renovated airport; areas of interest were in the sectors of power engineering, infor- luxury houses in expensive neighborhoods. mation technologies, the modernization of Bulgarian defense and security sector, tourism and agriculture. Besides these concrete Denizens of this Sofia have learned long time ago not to rely on the mayor or issues the businessmen showed interest in Bulgaria's upcoming city services, so they are solving their problems as they see fit. These people membership to EU. No doubt that joining EU Bulgaria will enter buy humongous 4X4 to navigate the potholes, hire private security to repel into the world largest trade and investment partnership -the one crime, install air conditioner units in the windows of homes and offices to shed between US and EU. Therefore Bulgaria's membership to EU dependency on an erratic central heating. They even move into a hotel in the meets full support on behalf of Unites States. country or abroad when piles of garbage swell on city streets because of waste management disputes. AmCham Bulgaria Magazine November 2005 November Magazine AmCham Bulgaria President Purvanov noted that the messages of friendship and trust that he received at all political levels in Washington D.C. The other Sofia is the one some of us pass on the way to work. It boasts send a clear signal to the U.S. business for more active oper- old autos with non-functioning tail lights - really dangerous when hopping in ations in Bulgaria. However the role of presidents is to create and out of potholes. That city has prefab apartment buildings with peeling the necessary political climate, reveal the opportunities and sides that seem to become uglier and uglier with every winter. The alterna- encourage the greater closeness between nations. Though the tive Sofia features horse-drawn farm carts loaded with any pieces of metal political stability and continuity in Bulgaria give good grounds scrap their gypsy owners could scavenge. They rumble over the yellow cob- for sustained economic development there is still a lot of work blestones toward their final destination in a slum at the capital's outskirts. page for the state to create more favorable conditions for business. 1 Exactly this alternative Sofia went to the polls and elected the new mayor. As it is the time for the Government to give evidence for more Let us not be worried about it. For AmCham Bulgaria Magazine readers life transparent and open business climate it is the time for the goes on as usual. And if someone wants to know how much of Sofia's sub- Chamber to increase its leadership role in promotion, advocacy way construction has been completed - sorry, I don't know. Just like most of and support for more US investments in the country. us, I have not used public transportation in this city since 1989. Sincerely, Sincerely, Valentin Georgiev Milen Marchev, Executive Director Editor-in-Chief contents issue 64 november 2005 AmCham Bulgaria Magazine is a primary forum for political and economic analyses, news, viewpoints as well as for the presentation of new business oppor- tunities. The articles in the AmCham Bulgaria Magazine express the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. Publisher Writers: American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria Boyko Vassilev, Marina Tzvetkova, Business Park Sofia, Mladost 4 Area Mina Georgieva, Panayot Angarev, Building 2, Floor 6, Sofia 1715, Bulgaria Yuliana Boncheva e-mail: [email protected] www.amcham.bg Advertising AmCham Bulgaria: Editor-in-Chief Nadejda Vakareeva, [email protected] Milen Marchev AmCham Bulgaria Magazine: Milen Marchev, [email protected] Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Christopher Karadjov The AmCham Bulgaria Magazine reaches a broad audience Senior Editor: of AmCham members, leading US, Bulgarian and internation- Irina Bacheva al companies, US and Bulgarian decision-makers, all AmChams around the world. Layout, Design & Printing: Subscription is free of charge. If you would like to subscribe Milen Marchev to AmCham Bulgaria publications, please contact the AmCham Bulgaria office. 2 AmCham Bulgaria Magazine November 2005 November Magazine AmCham Bulgaria amcham bulgaria Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria President Mr. Kenneth M. Lefkowitz NECA/Balkan Data, Inc. Contents Vice President Mr. Stefan Dimitrov Allied Pickfords Bulgaria Treasurer Mr. Anthony Hassiotis Bulgarian Postbank cover story To the Oval Office, Boston, Members Mrs. Olga Borissova AUBG, Director European Programs Chicago - and back . .4 Mr. Borislav Boyanov Borislav Boyanov & Co By Boyko Vassilev Mr. David Hampson Grenville Financial interview Mrs. Tanya Kosseva Landmark President Parvanov: I Received Messages Mr. George Randelov IBM Bulgaria of Friendship and Trust From Washington . .10 Mrs. Elitsa Tsaneva Ideal Standard Bulgaria By Milen Marchev Mrs. Maria Vranovska Eli Lilly and Company eu accession Ex-Officio Member Mr. James Rigassio US Senior Commercial Officer Sofia and Bucharest Marshal Executive Director: Valentin Georgiev All Forces for EU Accession . .13 . By Yuliana Boncheva 3M (East) AG . AA KRES EOOD ABB Bulgaria. Ltd. AbC.R.O. - Bulgaria. EAD Abrotea Bulgaria AD Accor Services Bulgaria. Acsior. ACT Soft Ltd. Address Bulgaria local elections Holding JSCo.- A real estate company ADIS Ltd. Advance International Transport (Balkan) EAD . AES Corporation . AFA OOD . AGS Bulgaria Ltd. AIG Bulgaria . AIG Life Sofia Elects General for Mayor . .18 Bulgaria . AIMS Human Capital . Alexandrov Ltd. Allan Collautt Associates, Inc. Allied By Marina Tzvetkova Pickfords Bulgaria . Alter Ego Company . American College of Sofia . American Construction Products JSC . American English Academy . American University in Bulgaria events (AUBG) . Amylum Bulgaria EAD . Anglo-American School of Sofia . Anton Preslavski, Economic Forum Closed Gap Between Liebert Hiross . APIS - BULGARIA Ltd. APOLO Ltd. Aries Commerce . ARGENTO State and Business . .22 Human Resource Solutions . Association of Bulgarian Broadcasters - ABBRO . AT Engineering 2000 Ltd. AUDITING COMPANY VERSI & PARTNERS OOD . Avendi Ltd. By Marina Georgieva AVON Cosmetics Bulgaria Ltd. Balkan News Corporation Plc. Balkan Star . BalkanData / Lefkowitz & Co. Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et le Developpement (BICD) . analysis Baxter AG . Bayer Bulgaria . BearingPoint Inc. BG Radio . Bodyguard-Fire-K Ltd. IMF Delays Performance Review . .26 Borislav Boyanov & Co. Braykov's Legal Office . Bristol-Myers Squibb . Brown Forman Beverages Worldwide Sofia Branch LLC . BTC-NET Ltd. Bulbank . Bulgarian American amcham events . Enterprise Fund Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation. (BCAF) Bulgarian. Post Bank Paparizov Admits Hot Issues Bulgarian. Telecommunications Company. EAD Business. Media Group. Business Park Sofia on Bulgaria's Agenda After EU Report . .28 .EOOD Business to Business. CA IB Bulinvest CableTel. Car Rental Bulgaria Ltd. Cefin Bulgaria EOOD IVECO. Chelopech Mining EAD Center. for the Study of. Democracy amcham interview . Cisco Systems Bulgaria . Citibank, N.A.- Sofia Branch .City University Clockwork MPs to Closely Monitor Government's . CMS Cameron McKenna. Coca Cola H.B.C Bulgaria SA .
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