The development of strategic transport corridors and progress in the construction and modernization of railway infrastructure were among the main topics of conversation between the Minister of Transport and Communications, Korman Ismailov, and the Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, H. Martin McDowell.
During the meeting, two key infrastructure directions were discussed, on which the Bulgarian side is working as a priority – the European "Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea" connection in the North-South direction and Corridor VIII in the East-West direction. Both axes are of particular importance both socio-economically and in terms of guaranteeing military mobility within NATO. According to the Bulgarian minister, the recently ratified bilateral agreement between Bulgaria and North Macedonia for the construction of a cross-border railway tunnel accelerates the completion of Corridor VIII.
The construction of a third bridge over the Danube River between Bulgaria and Romania in the Ruse area is one of the most important projects for North-South connectivity. "We expect to receive clarity in the near future regarding the starting point of the bridge on Bulgarian territory so that we can proceed with the accelerated construction of the adjacent infrastructure," the transport minister stated.
Korman Ismailov also presented the priorities in the program for the modernization of the railway sector. He pointed out that serious delays have been identified in some of the railway projects, leading to systematic cost increases and an additional burden on the budget. "We have taken measures to tighten financial discipline, attract additional resources, and accelerate implementation," he emphasized.
