Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski presented today the condition and the investment opportunities of the narrow-gauge railway line in Septemvri-Dobrinishte before representatives of the Swiss company Stadler Rail Group AG. This presentation took place within the meeting led by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. The talks are part of the two-day visit of the Prime Minister in the Swiss Confederation.

Minister Ivaylo Moskovski presented to the owner and CEO Peter Shpuler and the Sales Director of Swiss company for Central Europe Rudolf Quetta the details and the developments of the narrow gauge railway line which connects two of the biggest tourist centers in Bulgaria - Velingrad and Bansko.

Known as the Alpine rail on the Balkans, the Septemvri-Dobrinishte narrow gauge line has an important role not only for the development of specific sectors, such as forestry and tourism, but also for the travels of locals, students and visitors to our country.

Maintaining the narrow gauge railway line is part of the Plan to rehabilitate the national railway carrier and the Strategy for Development of Railway Transport 2015-2022, Minister Moskovski said, and added that the Council of Ministers is to submit the document to the National Assembly for ratification in short terms.

Later today, at a business forum, Minister Ivaylo Moskovski presented the opportunities for concession of ports, airports and railway stations, noting that this kind of cooperation between the government and the business is very successful and gave as examples the concession of the airport and the port of Burgas, as well as the airport in Varna.

Ivaylo Moskovski informed the representatives of the Swiss business on the infrastructure projects financed under the Operational Program "Transport 2007-2013" and the projects included in the new programming period under the OP "Transport and Transport Infrastructure" 2014-2020.

As part of the Bulgarian delegation, led by Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Minister Ivaylo Moskovski participated in meetings with Swiss authorities, in which topics of migration policy, Schengen and economic relations between the two countries were discussed.

The Ambassador of Bulgaria in the Swiss Confederation Meglena Plugchieva attended all meetings held between Bulgarian and Swiss authorities.