"I am working hard to ensure that our government provides the necessary funds for the completion of the last 2.4 km of the railway link with the Republic of North Macedonia." This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Korman Ismailov, during a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Bulgaria, H.E. Nataša Bergel. According to him, this is the only missing section of the railway line on Bulgarian territory that will ensure rail connectivity between Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
"A contract was signed with a contractor for the railway section in February, but the required €50 million has not been secured. To actually launch the project, we will seek opportunities together with the Ministry of Finance to find the funds from the state budget," Minister Ismailov emphasized. He added that the construction of Corridor VIII is of strategic importance from the perspective of NATO military mobility and transport connectivity. Its accelerated construction is a top priority for the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC).
For her part, Ambassador Nataša Bergel noted that for Slovenia, as a NATO member state, the development of the corridor is also of essential significance. She congratulated the government on its active work, noting that it operates with the high tempo of a regular cabinet.
The Transport Minister explained that regardless of the government's time horizon, he plans to begin long-awaited reforms in the most "unreformed" enterprises within the system, such as Bulgarian Posts, BDZ (Bulgarian State Railways), and the Executive Agency "Automobile Administration." Minister Ismailov is beginning a series of meetings with industry and trade union organizations in these sectors to jointly discuss measures, a program, and a strategy for their recovery and development.
Among the topics discussed was the restoration of a direct air link between Sofia and Ljubljana. The operators of Sofia Airport ("Vasil Levski") and Ljubljana Airport ("Jože Pučnik") are working in close cooperation to open a regular line between the two capitals and to select an airline to serve the route. Minister Ismailov emphasized that in the next few years, Sofia Airport will be one of the fastest-growing in the region and in Europe. Major investments in the airport's development are forthcoming, which will significantly increase its capacity and capabilities.
