Japanese company Yazaki, a global automative equipment supplier, is going to build a new factory with 1 500 jobs in the Bulgarian city of Sliven, the city mayor has announced.

Yazaki's new plant in the city of Sliven in Southeastern Bulgaria is to be completed by June 2012, Sliven Mayor Kolyu Milev told Radio Focus Monday.

In his words, by the end of 2012 Yazaki's new plant in Bulgaria will hire 500 people, with the number of employees swelling to 1 500 in 2013.

"About 4 000 electrical wiring systems for Ford vehicles will be produced annually by Yazaki in Sliven," Milev said.

He added that the new Yazaki plant will be located in the former building of Miroglio Group in Sliven.

Yazaki Bulgaria EOOD, which is 100% owned by the Japanese Yazaki Corporation, has already invested about BGN 60 M in Bulgaria, and has opened over 2 600 jobs, focusing its operations in the southeastern city of Yambol. It is a major employer in Southeastern Bulgaria.

Sliven Mayor Milev commented Monday that the new Yazaki plant in the city will employ locals who will no longer have to commute to Yazaki's facilities in Yambol.