Active efforts are underway to secure the necessary funding to complete the final 2.4 km of the railway connection with North Macedonia, caretaker Transport and Communications Minister Korman Ismailov said during a meeting with Slovenia’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Natasa Bergelj, the Ministry’s press centre reported on Monday.
The Ministry noted that this is the only missing section of the railway line on Bulgarian territory that will ensure full connectivity between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
A contract with a contractor for the section was signed in February, but the required funding of approximately EUR 50 million has not yet been secured. The Ministry said options are being explored jointly with the Finance Ministry to provide the funds from the state budget so that the project can begin in practice.
The press centre stressed that the construction of Transport Corridor 8 is of strategic importance both for transport connectivity and NATO military mobility, with its accelerated development among the main priorities.
During the meeting, the Slovenian ambassador expressed support for the project and highlighted its importance for the region and NATO member states.
The Ministry also said that the caretaker minister plans to launch a series of meetings with industry and trade union organizations in connection with planned reforms in key state-owned enterprises such as Bulgarian Posts, BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways), and the Executive Agency Automobile Administration.
The two sides also discussed the restoration of the direct air link between Sofia and Ljubljana. The Ministry noted that the operators of Vasil Levski Sofia Airport and Joze Pucnik Ljubljana Airport are working jointly to launch a regular service and select an airline to operate the route.
/MR/