Minister Jeliazkov following the meeting with World Bank CEO: We would like Sofia Airport concession to serve as an example for competitiveness and transparency

The Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Rossen Jeliazkov, held a meeting with World Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Kristalina Georgieva, to discuss issues of mutual interest with the forthcoming concession of Sofia Airport being the focus of the talks.

“We foresee some serious interest in the concession opportunities for Sofia Airport and this would be the best policy ensuring its development”, noted the Minister. He highlighted that global practice shows that one of the most successful investment solutions is attracting private partnership in the airport infrastructure management. Improving transport infrastructure is among the main priorities of the cabinet’s agenda.

Minister Jeliazkov supports the inspection of the concession procedure for Sofia Airport on the part of the Supreme Administrative Prosecutor’s Office to ensure its transparency and legitimacy with all possible and mandatory legal prerequisites. In this way, the procedure will be held in a fair and effective way.

“We have to convince society, on the one hand, that this is the only right way to operate such an asset, so as to preserve its state-bind nature, yet allow an international operator to invest in and develop its competitiveness. On the other hand, we have to guarantee procedure fairness before all potential candidates. We aim at making Sofia Airport concession and example of competitiveness and transparency”, Jeliazkov further pinpointed.

During the talks, both discussed the cooperation between the two institutions as well as the opportunities for future investments in transport.

Minster Rossen Jeliazkov and Kristalina Georgieva stated their confidence in the good dialogue and successful partnership in the future.