Dobromir Simidchiev, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works:

The Construction Chamber is the best professional organization in the country

  Mr. Simidchiev, 2012 is a year of major reform in the water sector and as you said “the more painful” part of this reform. Tell us more about its goals – consolidation of water supply operators, how to resolve the problem with the assets of water companies … The water sector is one of the least reformed sectors in our country as a result of which very few things in it have changed in recent years. At the same time in the sector have changed the conditions under which it operates and this creates an imbalance and certain disorders. One of the problems is associated with the ownership of water assets. In the early 90s of the last century all water assets known to operators have transferred management to water companies and declared their property by enrolling in the registered capital. To date, this in practice turns water operators into owners of assets. In our view these assets should be deducted from the assets of water operators and should be listed as public as specified in the provisions of the current Water Act of 2009. And despite the fact that companies are state, municipal or with mixed ownership currently these assets actually are private in water companies. The problem is serious because decisions about deduction pass through their principals and owners which require much effort and coordination on the part of any company in organizing the process. What is your address to the Bulgarian Construction Chamber which represents the industry? I think that the Bulgarian Construction Chamber is the best performing professional organization in the country. It managed to bring order in the construction industry and in much of the legislation which relates in a way to the main points in the regulation of this business. I wish the Chamber of Builders to continue to be a benchmark for all other colleagues.