Turkish glass manufacturer plans to boost its production facilities in Bulgaria by opening four new plants in the country by 2012.

The four new facilities will be located in the northeastern city of Targovishte, which is already the headquarters of Sisecam’s production operations in Bulgaria. Sisecam's four existing Bulgarian subsidiaries operate operate under the company name "Trakiya Glass Bulgaria EAD."

According to Krasimir Kanev, HR Director of Sisecam, has announced that the new production lines, which will manufacture auto glass, household glass, and coated glass for construction projects, will create 200 new jobs in the region in 2011 and 2012 for workers, and 50 jobs for engineers.

Kanev also said Sisecam’s Bulgarian flat glass manufacturing plants would go for a capacity build-up.

Sisecam is one of the biggest green-field investors in Bulgaria in the recent years, with its Bulgarian investments already totaling USD 300 M. It employs some 1100 workers, with an average salary of BGN 800.

Kanev revealed that the company has made an agreement with the Labor Ministry and the State Employment Agency to hire people from the northeastern districts of Targovishte, Shumen, and Razgrad, which are districts with traditionally high unemployment.

The four already existing plants of Sisecam in Targovishte were hurt by the global economic crisis, as back in December 2008 Sisecam's automotive glass factory in Bulgaria's Turgovishte - Trakiya Otocam - stopped its production over the decreased demand in Europe caused by the effects of the financial crisis.