Delyan Dobrev, Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism, has emphasized that Bulgaria is making efforts to support companies which want to invest in the country.

Speaking Tuesday at the opening of the new plant of Salvamed AD in the southwestern town of Sandanski, he said that Italian investments in Bulgaria were very serious and mostly concentrated in the sphere of production.

He noted that Italian investments created tens of thousands of jobs in the country.

Bulgaria's Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism thanked the owners of the plant for the investment, part of which is financed under the Competitive Power Operational Program.

The project for technological upgrade of the plant of Salvamed AD had a price tag of nearly BGN 2 M, half of which was granted under the Competitive Power OP.

Salvamed AD specializes in the production of bandages and plaster bandages.

"Although the economic situation is still difficult, this investment is happening. This is proof that the government managed to create a suitable business climate," Dobrev emphasized.

He reminded that each investor certified as class A, B, and C had been assigned a personal assistant at the InvestBulgaria Agency six months ago.

Dobrev added that Parliament was to discuss amendments to the Investment Promotion Act allowing all investors certified as class A and B to get back social security payments for a period of two years, specifying that the step would reduce human resources expenses by 17.4%.

"I am sure that this will help create new jobs and reduce unemployment," he said, adding that the amendments were universally considered as very good news among investors.