World Bank to Give Bulgaria Know-How, Financial Boost

During his official meeting to the US, Bulgaria Economy Minister Traikov met with World Bank officials

The World Bank is prepared to help finance the rehabilitation of the Bulgarian road infrastructure.

This was made clear during meeting of the Bulgarian Economy Minister Traicho Traikov with the President of the World Trade Bank, Robert Zoellick, and Rudolph Treffers, the World Bank Executive Director for the Netherlands, which took place in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, who was a Vice-President of the World Bank before she took up her current EC job in February 2010, was also present at the meeting.

The meeting was was part of Minister Traikov's official visit to the US during which he also met with US government officials and representatives of large American companies.

The World Bank has also vowed to provide expert help for the country's energy strategy as well as for its big energy projects. It will assist Bulgaria in reforming its business sector and improving the business environment. World Bank President Zoellick plans a visit to Bulgaria in July 2010.

Some of the issues discussed by Traikov during his meetings in the US are the possibility of including Bulgaria in the US visa waiver program, making Bulgaria a more attractive tourist destination and giving it a greater access to the American goods market.