The new Bulgarian government of the GERB party and PM Borisov has moved to create a joint information system of the Customs Agency and the National Revenue Agency.

The heads of the two institutions, respectively Hristo Kulishev and Krasimir Stefanov, are signing an agreement for cooperation Thursday morning that is going to realize the much awaited connection of the information systems of the agencies, giving their employees access to a common pool of data.

Shortly after the agreement is signed, a demonstration of the new system will be held at the central office of the NRA.

The major aim of the new information system is to increase the efficiency of the work of the Customs and Revenue Agencies, most notably in collecting customs duties, state fees, and excise taxes.

Shortly after his appointment two weeks ago, Bulgaria's new Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, said the joint information system of the Customs and the National Revenue Agency would be launched within two months.

The new government seems to have decided to speed up this measure. According to Djankov, who is trying to find a way to close an emerging BGN 2,5 B deficit in the Bulgarian state budget, the creation of the new joint information system is going to lead to collecting about BGN 150-200 M more from duties and taxes.

On Wednesday, August 5, Djankov announced plans to reduce state expenditures by BGN 1,150 B by the end of 2009, and said the government was now going to focus on trying to raise more revenue in order to close the emerging budget gap.