Former Bulgarian president highlights ambitious new projects with Azerbaijan

Former Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev has highlighted the plans to implement mutually beneficial projects between Azerbaijan and his country.

Plevneliev emphasized the growing ambition for deeper cooperation between the two nations, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

"We now have more ambitious goals and are planning new projects that will be mutually beneficial for both Azerbaijan and Bulgaria," Plevneliev said.

"I am very pleased that the relationship between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan is grounded in a strategic partnership," he added.

Plevneliev also pointed out key developments in bilateral energy cooperation. Bulgaria's state-owned energy company, Bulgargaz EAD, has signed a contract with the Shah Deniz consortium for the supply of 1 billion cubic metres of gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field. This gas is delivered to Bulgaria through the Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector (IGB), which is connected to the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Additionally, Bulgaria is involved in a joint venture within the Caspian-Black Sea-European Green Energy Corridor, which aims to boost regional energy cooperation.

On transport and infrastructure, Plevneliev noted that Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and Türkiye are jointly investing in the development of the Middle Corridor, a vital route for cargo transportation from Europe to China. Bulgaria is currently modernizing its railway network to enhance freight transport along this route.

"These are very important projects that will be successfully implemented, ensuring continued cooperation and mutual benefits," he said. "In the medium term, we anticipate increased investments from EU companies and Bulgarian businesses in the corridor."

The Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), connects China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye, and Europe. In 2024, cargo traffic along this route saw a significant increase of 62 per cent, reaching 4.5 million tons. The corridor's capacity is expected to grow to 10 million tons by 2027, thanks to ongoing development efforts.

By Vafa Guliyeva