The construction of BGN 40 million production plant for aluminium profiles, the largest on the Balkans, has started in Trakia Economic Zone. Minister of Economy Lachezar Borisov presented a Class A investment certificate to Zdravko Linkin, chairman of the board of directors of Interlink Group AD. This happened on 31 March at the turning of the first sod of a high-tech plant for aluminium profiles in Maritsa Industrial Zone, which is part of Trakia Economic Zone.

The number of Covid-19 cases in the country has been rising for the past two or three weeks. This has prompted us to take nation-wide mitigation action, with the restrictive measures set to come into force on Monday and stay in place for 10 days, Health Minister Prof. Kostadin Angelov announced today during a regularly scheduled briefing of the National Operative Staff.

Meeting with North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said: "All differences between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia should be ironed out. The future generations will not forgive us if we miss this great opportunity."

Tomorrow, 5 March, is the official kick-off of Bulgaria's general election campaign, which will conclude on 2 April. The regular general elections are to be held on 4 April. Candidates representing 22 parties and eight coalitions will vie for voters' support.

The global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings raised from stable to positive the outlook over Bulgaria's Long-Term Foreign-Currency and Local-Currency credit rating. The country's BBB rating was affirmed. This was announced by the Ministry of Finance's press centre.

“Good neighbourly relations are an important part of every framework for negotiations, and building them for the future generations (of Bulgaria and North Macedonia) will require restoring mutual trust between the two countries,” said MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk during a joint press conference with North Macedonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani.

Bulgaria is among the few countries in which there is growth in consumption and rising incomes during the coronavirus crisis. This was stated by Minister of Economy Lachezar Borisov during the virtual Economist event entitled EU Recovery and Resilience Fund for Bulgaria's Transition: Innovation - Green Agenda - Digital Transformation. Bulgaria's public debt is among the lowest, the budget deficit for 2020 is 3%, and the unemployment rate in the country is 5% according to data by the National Statistical Institute and 7% according to data by the Employment Agency, he added.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov had a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. The two leaders agreed to develop closer cooperation and coordination in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The aim is for the two countries to cooperate more actively by exchanging experience and good practices in the fight against Covid-19.

Signing of the contract with Westinghouse Electric Sweden (WES) is another step for Bulgaria towards diversification. This was commented by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov after the ceremony yesterday. The contract is for the development of safety analyses for licensing and introduction of an alternative fuel type in Unit 5 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).

Bulgaria has filed a request for Bulgarian yogurt and Bulgarian white brined cheese to be granted Protected Designation of Origin and listed in the European Register for Protected Designations of Origin and Protected Geographical Indications for agricultural products and food.