Bulgaria's total market size for building materials, products, systems (component systems and prefabricated construction) and technologies for residential and non-residential construction is estimated to have been $287 million for 1999, representing 2.25% of Bulgaria's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The U.S. market share was approximately 4% ($4.2 million), which includes value-added products but excludes the exports of wood–in-the-rough to Bulgaria.

Because of the relatively stable economic conditions in Bulgaria over the past year, the building materials market has been expanding by 22%, and will expand by a steady 12.5% over the near term. But the market can be expected to grow even more over the long term when the economy strengthens, along with the real estate market. Bulgaria's housing market is improving and offers excellent opportunities for the U.S. suppliers of building materials and great potential for the manufacturers of value-added products.

Traditionally, Bulgarian buildings are made from unreinforced brick with concrete stucco, or more recently, from steel-reinforced concrete with brick infill. Some buildings have concrete shearwall, but extensive renovation of first floors of older buildings to create commercial space has resulted in many "soft story" buildings that are more susceptible to collapse if there were a strong earthquake. Bulgarian buildings are energy inefficient, heavy, and take a long time to build. Wood and steel frame buildings are almost unknown. This situation offers many opportunities to promote high-tech American building materials based on advanced U.S. technology.

Keys to U.S. market growth are selection of an agent or distributor by the U.S. company and market promotion to increase end-user awareness of new technology and products on the market in comparison with the dominant European competition and low-tech Bulgarian basic building products. The primary hindrance to market expansion is a lack of funds and access to credit by Bulgarian importers and end-users. Commercial Service Sofia's support of this sector includes a buyers delegation to the annual International Builders Show and organization of a U.S. pavilion at the spring STROIKO building materials show in Sofia.

While Bulgarian production accounted for about 75 percent of the building materials market in 1999, the Bulgarian building products industry is far behind the U.S. standards. The Bulgarian building companies produce basic building materials using cheap labor but they do not make any high-tech value-added products, and cannot be a competitor in terms of quality and technology. A good example are the privatized cement factories. Approximately 95 percent of their production is sold on the domestic market.

Third country imports, are mainly from Germany, Italy, France and Turkey. They have very well-established dealer networks and hold 80% of import market share. The potential end users of U.S. building materials and services are the major construction and building companies like Siconco, Citycom, Glavbolgarstroy, Ingstroy, Mostroy, Transtroy, and Magistrali which may prefer the better quality and advanced technology of imported products. The key market access issue is customs tariffs. U.S. companies have to pay higher import taxes compared to importers from the European Union.

Best prospect residential building materials described in this report include housing packages with Harmonized System (HS) code 9406 and other good prospect products such as HS codes 4407 (lumber), 4408 (veneer sheets for plywood), 4409 (wood flooring), 4410 (particle board), 4411 (fiberboard), 4412 (plywood), 4418 (wood panels, windows, doors, shingles), 7324 (iron and steel bathtubs), 8403 (central heating boilers), 8481 (kitchen and bathroom faucets), 9403 (furniture including wooden kitchen cabinets) and 9405 (lighting). Other best prospects include suspended ceilings.and steel-frame buildings.

Best prospect non-residential products covered by this report are HS codes 6806 (mixtures and articles of heat insulating, sound insulating or sound-absorbing mineral materials), 6807 (petroleum bitumen or coal tar pitch), 6808 (panels, boards, tiles, blocks agglomerated with cement, plaster or other mineral binders), 6809 (articles of plaster or of composition based on plaster), 6810 (articles of cement, of concrete or of artificial stone, whether or not reinforced), 6811 (articles of asbestos-cement, of cellulose fiber – cement or the like), 6901 ( bricks, blocks, tiles and other ceramic goods of siliceous fossil meals), 6903 (other refractory ceramic goods), 6905 (roofing tiles), 6906 (ceramic pipes, conduits, guttering and pipe fittings), 7308 (structures excluding prefabricated buildings of heading 9406 and parts of structures for example bridges and bridge sections, lock gates, towers, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows, and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns of iron or steel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel), 7507 (nickel tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings for example couplings, elbows, sleeves), 7610 (aluminium structures excluding prefabricated buildings of heading 9406 and parts of structures), 7805 (lead tubes, pipes and tube or pipe fittings for example couplings, elbows, sleeves).


A. MARKET HIGHLIGHTS AND BEST PROSPECTS

1. Market Profile

The size of Bulgaria's market for building materials is a function of the number of annual starts of residential, commercial and industrial facilities, plus the extensive renovation of older buildings, together with the many plans for major government-funded infrastructure development including buildings, roads, ports, airports, bridges and boarder crossings. This in turn is a function of the condition of Bulgaria's economy and the ability of the government and private companies and individuals to finance projects.

Reflecting the Bulgarian economy, the building materials market, including both commercial and residential, declined over the past several years, but rebounded in 1999, which was a boom year with a growth rate of 22% over 1998, reaching its total 1999 size of $287 million. The import market is expected to grow by a steady 12.5% percent per year after 2001. Imports from the United States comprised approximately 4% of the total market, or $4.2 million for 1999. The outlook for U.S. imports over the coming several years is for growth of 22% from 1999 to 2000, 16% from 2000 to 2001, and 10% thereafter.

There are thousands of building materials suppliers in Bulgaria. In the Sofia region alone there are about 4,000 building and construction companies registered. The construction and building sector is now one of the busiest in the country. The strong and growing demand for construction materials for housing, commercial and industrial projects is expected to continue through the next decade.

The following tables give two breakdowns of revenues in the building and construction sector:

The following tables give two breakdowns of revenues in the building and construction sector:

Values shown in USD$m	1997	1998	1999
Total revenue from building and construction operations	39	71	623
A. Revenue from residential and non-residential buildings	30	53	467
1. Residential buildings	11	25	200
a. New buildings and improvements	9	18	160
b. New residential buildings	8	16	149
Improvement of residential buildings	1	2	11
Additions	0.1	0.3	0.8
Internal improvements to residential buildings	0.4	1	7
External improvements to residential buildings	0.1	0.3	2
General modifications	0.1	0.1	1
Maintenance and current repairs	1	5	39
2. Non-residential buildings	19	28	267
a. New buildings and improvements	12	21	193
b. New non-residential buildings	8	16	115
Improvements to non-residential buildings	4	5	78
Maintenance and current repairs	7	8	74
Revenue from commercial and office buildings	9	18	156
Including new buildings	3	12	52

The approximate cost of residential land in Bulgaria is $10 per square meter. The most preferable lot size for single-family houses is between 500 and 1,500 square meters (about 6,000 to 16 000 square feet), so that land acquisition costs for a house are in the range of $5,000 to $15,000. Even though this is expensive to Bulgarian workers, who typically earn about $1,500 per year, there is a substantial demand for such land. The purchase price of floorage for new construction or for an existing residence, either for a single-family home or for a condominium, is in the range of $250 - $300 per square meter depending on the location. The average size of a single-family home is 180 square meters, and in a typical apartment 70.

The ongoing privatization of Bulgaria's construction and building industry will open the way for new building technologies to become established on the Bulgarian market. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works plans to privatize more than 90 percent of the existing construction companies, selling 150 companies through 2001 - including 100% shares in 120 of these companies. The Ministry wants to see more foreign investment in those companies in the form of joint-ventures or other partnerships.

Good opportunities for U.S. companies lie largely in the residential sector. At present the vast majority of imported housing materials is used in the single-family housing market, including summer homes for wealthy Bulgarians, although the multi-family market also has good future potential. There is also a pent-up demand because of the lack of investment in physical infrastructure including residential construction during the past ten years since the end of the Communist period. For example, for a population of about 8.5 million people, the number of completed dwellings during the years 1997, 1998, and 1999 were only 7,452, 4,942, and 8,643 respectively. The ratio of single family homes and condominiums (apartments in multi-family buildings) is 1:6.

Demand for residential building materials will also increase because the purchasing power of potential buyers is also expected to grow, due to the expansion of Bulgaria's economy and the accompanying rise of personal incomes. For these reasons, the number of Bulgarians who can afford to buy a two-bedroom condominium of 70 square meters, which typically costs $20,000 to $30,000 (even $40,000 in Sofia), is going up. Another contributing factor is the anticipated decline of the current mortgage interest rates of 16%.

The Bulgarian market is very receptive to U.S. housing materials. Many Bulgarian companies are looking for new high tech products and technologies. The number of inquiries from Bulgarian businesses wanting to import U.S. building products is increasing. Some home builders are starting to use the American-style platform-frame wood construction and prefabricated housing. They prefer them for their different styles, superior energy performance in Bulgaria's climate, soundproofing, tight insulation and airtightness, earthquake resistance, and price-competitiveness compared to the European products. U.S. companies can provide the widest variety of products at a low cost to complement their strong export capacity. In addition, U.S. companies can also provide advanced U.S. housing construction techniques, which are key to lowering housing costs and shortening of construction times. This in turn should increase the demand for U.S. housing and building materials. Therefore, U.S. residential building materials suppliers are very competitive and have good market potential.

To better penetrate the Bulgarian market, it is important to understand the differences between Bulgarian and American lifestyles and land availability and to be able to design a house to fit local tastes and needs. Differences in lifestyles are predetermined by the economical, social and cultural factors. Differences in land availability are determined by the newly created, market-driven economy in Bulgaria and the growing real estate market. Local tastes are dominated by the desire of nearly each Bulgarian to possess a single-family house. The needs of the average Bulgarian are driven by the possibility of owning a bigger home and the ability to afford rising electric and heating costs. U.S. companies with a wide range of products need merely to choose the right products for Bulgaria; little adaptation of their products to the Bulgarian building market will be necessary because the market is flexible. However, metric products will achieve faster market penetration.

In addition to residential construction, substantial opportunities lie in the commercial and industrial sectors. The former privatization funds are offering for sale industrial buildings to small and medium sized enterprises as well as land parcels between 4,500 and 9,000 square meters (50,000 and 100,000 square feet). Many of these buildings will need expensive major renovations, which is why many investors prefer to acquire vacant land or to scrap and build.

Specialized building materials will also be needed for the extensive renovation and construction of hotels, especially as the Black Sea summer resorts and mountain winter resorts are privatized by sale to largely foreign investors. For example, renovation of resort hotels has been started by German tour operator-investors such as Neckerman, TUI, ITS and the Spanish Iberostar.

Bulgaria has a strategic geographical position on the border between Europe and Asia and has the potential to be an important investment center for companies in the region. Major construction work will soon begin in Maritsa East 1 coal-fired power station by AES with a total capacity of 600 MW and the renovation of four power plants by Entergy at Maritsa East 3 with a total capacity of 840 MW. The building of the Vidin-Calafat bridge over the Danube River and the construction of new passenger and cargo terminals and a new, extended runway at the Sofia Airport are also planned as part of the Stability Pact assistance to Bulgaria. Other major infrastructure projects underway include a $100 million contract for the erection of the Southern Bypass Highway which is expected to be signed shortly between the Ministry of the Regional Development and Public Works and the Turkish Holding Group Ceylan. The same group is involved in the construction of a new 170 MW hydropower plant to start at the end of September 2000. Other projects are the Gas Storage Facility at Chiren and the Trans-Balkan Oil Pipeline. Sofia Municipality's award to International Water of the Sofia water and wastewater system concession will result in major overhaul and replacement of existing facilities. Major energy infrastructure facilities will be rebuilt and rehabilitated such as at Maritsa East 1 and 3 thermal power plants and Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant Units 5 and 6. District heating plants will increasingly provide electricity through cogeneration. Private developers are building office parks and hotels.

Other factors which will affect the demand for building materials over the next several years include plans for the reconstruction of the airports in Varna, Burgas and Gorna Oryahovitza; the priority projects at the port of Varna (grain and container terminal) and Burgas (Ro-Ro and Ferry terminal, container terminal, new mole, bulk and general cargo terminal, liquid and general cargo terminal, oil port – extension and reconstruction); construction, reconstruction and extension of roads and railways; the Sofia intermodal terminal; and the rehabilitation of the thermal power plant in Varna with a total capacity of 1280 MW.

Up-to-date information on these and other major projects in Bulgaria, as well as links to Bulgarian government information sources, can be accessed on the Commercial Service Sofia website, http://www.usatrade.gov/bulgaria, and from the websites of major international financial institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank.

2. Statistical Data

Since no reliable data exists concerning the market size of imported building materials used in the construction sector, the statistical data as to import market and imports from the U.S. is based on best estimates compiled from available data and industry sources.

Values shown in USD$m	1999	2000	2001	Projected Annual Growth Rate for 2 years (%)
Import Market	96.8	118.5	148.1	12.5
Local Production	221.3	254.9	274.7	5.0
Exports	31.1	42.4	65.0	4.0
Total Market	287.0	331.0	357.8	9.0
Imports from U.S.	4.2	5.6	6.5	10.0
Exchange Rates	1.82	2.02	2.00

The U.S. products which will have a very strong market position include floor and wall coverings and accessories, suspended ceilings, wood paneling, insulation, adhesives, cements, coatings, wooden and vinyl doors and windows, door and window components, glass and glass products, iron and aluminum components, metal and vinyl siding, sun-guard systems, granite, marble and stone, paint and seals, electrical wiring, pre-fabricated building modules, flooring, bathroom furnishings and accessories, kitchen furnishings and cabinets, plumbing fittings and pipes, sanitary plumbing, taps and fittings, ceramic tiles, roofing shingles, tiles and bricks (materials and components), heating and ventilation equipment, air conditioning, refrigeration and cooling systems, steel buildings and fabrications. Other potential imports from the United States includes framing lumber, plywood, molding and fiberboard.


B. COMPETITIVE SITUATION

The most important competitive factors for establishing a good market position in Bulgaria's building products sector are price, quality, financing terms and promotion. Secondary factors are shipping costs and delivery schedules. Other factor in the future may be ability to recycle products, as construction site waste is becoming a significant environmental problem.

Imports account for 36% of Bulgaria's market for construction materials. Bulgarian builders and architects are generally more knowledgeable about the advantages of imported housing building products, and they are the ones who usually make the decision to import. For builders and construction companies, the important criteria used in determining which products and from whom they purchase are price, quality, brand recognition, variety in design, delivery lead time and after sales service.

1. Domestic Production

While Bulgarian production accounted for about 64 percent of the building materials market in 1999, Bulgarian products are far behind U.S. standards. Using inexpensive labor, Bulgarian companies produce basic building materials such as cement, limestone, and bricks. But they do not make any high-tech value-added products, and so cannot play any competitive role within the market in terms of quality or technology.

The names of the leading producers are Ytong (German subsidiary) – masonry bricks;
Gips PLC; Koshava – gypsum; Ival Ltd, Burgoplast, Dakton – doors and windows, Den Blaven Bulgaria Ltd. – insulation materials; Espace Ltd. – PVC pipes; ZMK – Karnobat, ZSK Devnia, ZPMS – steel and metal constructions; Keramat JSC – Kaspichan and Keramik Ltd – Panagurishte -- bricks and ceramic materials; Orgahim Ruse and Lakprom -- varnishes and paints; Terazid – adhesives, pastes and glues; Zavod za varovik – Chernevo – limestone; and Holderbank (Switzerland) - cement.

Some foreign companies have successfully participated in the privatization of the building sector.
One good example is American Standard. The U.S.-owned multinational has its largest production facilities for the European market in Sevlievo, in central Bulgaria. At a total of three plants, one of which is a giant new facility constructed in 1998 with a total floor area of 97,000 square meters, the company produces ceramic fixtures such as sinks and toilets and metal fittings such as pipes and faucets at an international quality standard.

Direct foreign investment in the building sector during the years 1997, 1998, 1999 was $41 million, $40 million and $77 million respectively. With the exception of American Standard, these figures represent primarily European investment. Knauf Gipsfaser Inc., a German manufacturer of gypsum products and bricks paid $35 million to buy the Bulgarian building products company Gipsfaser JSC in Vidin. The company produces drywalls under their own technology proposed mainly for the local market.

The Bulgarian cement industry, consisting of six plants, has also received substantial foreign investment. All have already either been sold to foreign strategic investors, or are in the process of being sold. In November 1998, the large Vulkan plant was sold to Ciment Francais (France) for $19 million. Titan Cement (Greece) acquired a majority stake in Plevenski Cement Ltd. in 1998 for $9 million. The plant, which has a 20 percent share of the market, posted a significant profit in 1999. The Swiss company Holderbank paid $32.5 million for a 51 percent share of the cement plant in Beli Izvor and will invest an additional $20 million in the reconstruction of the factory. Heidelberger Cement of Germany made paid $6 million for the Zlatna Panega cement factory.

2. Non-US Country Imports

Imports from third countries accounted for 34% of the local market in 1999. Germany, Italy, France, and Turkey are the leading sources of Bulgarian imports of building materials, due to their modern products and technologies. There is a strong competition among the European imports, and they have well-established dealer networks.

The estimated value of third-country imports for 2000 of $112.9 million is about 22 percent above 1999's $92.6 million. Between 2000 and 2001, third country imports will increase about 25%. The projected average growth rate for third country imports over the next few years is 10% to 15% per year. The reason for this market trend is the growing economy and the future infrastructure projects.

Well-known European suppliers to the Bulgarian market include Ytong – masonry bricks; Rigips and Knauf-Gipsfaser -- drywall partitions, suspended ceilings, wall and floor coverings; Laufen – ceramics; Baumit – isolation materials, glues; Wuerth – mounting euipment; Onduline – roofing materials; ARMSTRONG – suspended ceilings; Koemmerling – PVC doors and walls. Henkel, Faber, Witex, Lin – suspended ceilings, partition walls, lightning fixtures; and AKZO NOBEL – paint and varnishes.

Imports from third–country suppliers will grow over the short term because of the strong interest among Bulgarian builders and end-users. Therefore, U.S. manufacturers should develop advertising and promotional materials to acquaint Bulgarian builders and homeowners with the advantages of U.S. housing products.

3. U.S. Market Position

U.S. products maintained a 1% market share and a 4% import market share in 1999. Overall, the low prices, advanced features and high quality of U.S. building products should make them very competitive to the European products that are dominating the local market, although they are mostly unknown to dealers or end-users who are very familiar with the European products. Price competitiveness is adversely affected, however, by higher shipping costs and a substantial customs tariff differential compared to European products.

Estimated imports from the U.S. for 2000 will increase approximately 33%. Imports of U.S. building products for residential and non-residential use are expected to grow over 16 percent in 2001 and then maintain current growth levels up to 10 percent over the near term. While U.S. products are increasing sales, they will be losing market share slightly due to the greater recognition of European products in Bulgaria.

U.S. market growth will be primarily result from making U.S. products better known to the Bulgarian market. The first step for U.S. companies is to find a reliable distributor. Significant market promotion efforts include the regular attendance by Bulgarian companies at the International Builders Show, in part through participation in the annual Commercial Service Sofia buyers delegation; participation by U.S. companies in the STROIKO building materials exhibition, which commenced in 2000 with seven companies; and greater awareness of U.S. building materials by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Bulgarian Building and Construction Chamber and construction companies and home builders. Also, U.S. building materials manufacturers should develop advertising and promotional materials to acquaint construction companies, builders and homeowners with the advantages of their building products, technologies and techniques. A good representative will also use local newspaper advertisements to promote the availability of new U.S. building technology.

It is very important for U.S. suppliers of residential building products to learn about Bulgarian housing conditions, lifestyle, competitors, and customer needs in the Bulgarian market. The best way to get acquainted with the Bulgarian market is to participate in trade shows in Bulgaria, to meet local companies and do comparisons with competing European competitors' products.

Several U.S. building materials manufacturers are already selling successfully to the Bulgarian market. Armstrong's suspended ceilings and Thermo Shield's doors and windows are already well-known U.S. brands that benefit from high consumer recognition and wide representation. Honeywell is also well-known for its climate controls. Another example is the import of U.S. vinyl siding, which is becoming increasingly popular in Bulgaria. GRIPS-PVC represents the U.S. company VARIFORM in Bulgaria, which offers siding material and accessories.

C. END-USER ANALYSIS

There are three main user groups of imported building materials:

• Governmental and municipal entities (procurement for construction projects)- 24%
• Private-sector building and construction companies - 67%
• Retail end-users - 9%

• U.S. manufacturer to Bulgarian agent (distributor) to Bulgarian construction companies, homebuilders and end-users

• U.S. manufacturer to U.S. consolidator to Bulgarian construction companies, home builders and end-users

Also a technology and training system can be developed to support an authorized builder/dealer organization operating under a trademark licensing agreement which would build Bulgarian consumer name brand recognition.

To cut transportation costs and to be compatible on the market, it is necessary to import advanced U.S. home construction techniques and not just building materials. At the initial stage, it may be necessary to invite American housing experts to build houses and to demonstrate the new technology to Bulgarian business partners and their employees as well as to organize seminars, lectures and conferences. In contrast to the United States, where low-cost, ready-made home plans sold in book stores, whose blueprints can even be purchased by mail, are very popular, in Bulgaria most plans are custom-drafted from plans developed by the housing company's in-house architects based on customer's preferences. The Bulgarian builders have therefore to learn the new techniques and technologies in order to apply the new materials.

Like selling any new or unfamiliar product, no matter what the quality or durability in fact, it is essential to demonstrate that the customer will not face unsolved problems after purchase. That is especially true in selling homes since Bulgarian homeowners often do not perform routine maintenance or repairs that in the United States are considered the homeowners' responsibility. It may be necessary for Bulgarian importers or builders to provide an extended warranty, determined by the U.S. housing products suppliers. It will also be desirable to hold seminars on a regular basis to teach Bulgarian home builders American building methods and techniques.

3. Financing

The most common method of payment is 100% prepayment, as by letter of credit, for at least the first delivery.

As importers are mostly thinly capitalized small- to medium-size companies with little access to credit financing due to uncertain economic conditions and an underdeveloped banking and credit system, industry sources strongly recommend that U.S. suppliers require prepayment, especially with the first transaction. But prepayment requirements could put a U.S. company at a competitive disadvantage to their European competitors, who are more willing to grant credit based on existing commercial relationships with their customers.

The difficulties that Bulgarian building companies face when seeking financing are daunting although the current single- and multi-family housing price range is attractive for the Bulgarian consumer. However, construction and mortgage financing remain inadequate due to a lack of reliable credit reporting information. The emergence of a viable mortgage banking system will bring more homes within reach of thousands of customers and with that we can expect a potential growth of the need for new U.S. building materials.

At this time, with the exception of the State Savings Bank, a leading role in the financing of the building and construction sector is being played by the Bulgarian-American Credit Bank, established by the Bulgarian-American Enterprise Fund in 1996. The Bank offers mortgages covering up to 75 percent of the value of a building, for loan amounts between $7,000 and $100,000, with loan terms of 10 years, payable in equal monthly installments. Current interest rates are 16 percent. So far more than $3 million has been loaned to home buyers using this credit line. The BACB has also lent $10 million for the building of small private hotels.

Over the near term, Bulgaria will rely heavily on foreign-owned banks for commercial credit. Almost all of the privatized state-owned banks have been purchased by foreign financial institutions. This also should help the Bulgarian banking system improve its ability to provide commercial credit and home mortgages for building construction.

Demographics & Economic Situation

Source: Factbook.net

Bulgaria
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Autoparts Market Summary 2001	Business Travel
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Building Materials Market - 2001	Investment Climate - 2001
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Computer Hardware Market -2001	Political Environment - 2001
E-Commerce -2001	Trade Financing - 2001
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Internet Market Access	Trade Statistics
Internet End User Market	FDI & Convergence Indicators - 2001
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Software Market
Tourism Market -2001
Value Added Telecom Market -2001

4. Key Contacts

a. Government Agencies and Trade Associations

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works

Mr. Evgeni Chachev, Minister
Mr. Todor Vachkov, Deputy Minister
Ms. Vania Zegova, Deputy Minister
Ms. Violeta Angelieva, Head of Directorate of European Integration and Harmonization with the European Rules and Technical Regulations
17-19, Kiril and Metodius Street
1000 Sofia
Tel: (359-2) 988-3177, 83-841
Fax: (359) (2) 987-2517

Bulgarian Construction and Building Chamber
Mr. Ilia Tassev, Chairman
Mr. Ivan Stoyanov, Secretary General
23, Chumerna Street
1202 Sofia
Tel: (359) (2) 988-6881
Fax: (359) (2) 988-6880
e-mail: bbcc@bnc.bg
website: htttp://www.bbcc.bnc.bg

Bulgarian Builders Association
Mr. Severin Popov, Manager
6, Sveta Nedelja Sq.
1000 Sofia
Tel: (359) (2) 88-31-69
Fax: (359) (2) 876-8647

National Association of Home Builders (Bulgarian organization)
Ms. Daniela Pehlivanova, President
49, Ekzarh Josif Street
Sofia 1000
Tel: (359) (2) 983-60-36
Fax: (359) (2) 983-18-63
e-mail: nahbbul@bnc.bg

b. Leading Importers/users of U.S Building Materials:

Fairplay International Ltd.
Mario Zahariev, President
9, Bademova gora Street
Sofia 1404
Tel: (359) (2) 58-150-16, 958-14-64
Fax: (359) (2) 958-16-21
e-mail: fairplay@inet.bg

Nato Properties
Ignat Ignev, President
41-43, Skobelev Blvd.
Sofia 1606
Tel: (359) (2) 953-05-04
Fax: (359) (2) 951-64-01
e-mail: natohome@bulnet.bg

GRIPS-PVC
Jonko Zemiarski
99, Petar Bogdan Street
Rakovski
Tel: (359) (32) 964-385
Fax: (359) (3151) 45-68
e-mail: ionkozem@yahoo.com

E 5 Holding Group
Sashko Germanov,President
Sofiiski geroi Street Block 122, entrance G
Sofia 1612
Tel: (359) (2) 581-712
Fax: (359) (2) 599-162
e-mail: e5ltd@techno-link.com

ROTA Engineering
Mr. Atanas Naydenov, President
59, Alexander Stamboliiski Blvd.
Sofia 1303
Tel: (359) (2) 981-55-67
Fax: (359) (2) 981-59-71
e-mail: rota-eng@plovdiv.ttm.bg
e-mail: ortasof@sofia.online

EURODOM Ltd.
Konstantin Levakov, General Manager
23 Vasil Drumev Street
Varna 9002
Tel: (359) (52) 608-431
Fax: (359) (52) 259-175
e-mail: Levakov@triada.bg

SEAL Top Engineering Ltd.
Simeon Petkov, Managing Director
7-11, Karnigradska Street
Tel: (359) (2) 980-88-27
Fax: (359) (2) 981-37-66
e-mail: simo@ttm.bg

Agency Mitev-Radulov
Georgi Radulov, Manager
26 Skobelevska Street
5500 Lovech
Tel: (359) (68) 46-042
Fax: (359) (68) 42-064
e-mail: amr@mbox.infotel.bg

c. Leading Importers or Wholesalers of Non-Residential Building Materials:

Transstroy-Sofia JSC
Angel Zlatev, Executive Director
29, Klokotnitza Street
1202 Sofia
Tel: (359) (2) 31-61-77
Fax: (359) (2) 32-41-40

Tirlin JSC
Sarkis Garabedian, Executive Director
27 Maritza Blvd.
Plovdiv 4003
Tel: (359) (32) 55-21-61 or 55-50-10
Fax: (359) (32) 55-37-26

CB-GUSV
Nikolai Banchev, Chief of the Supplies Department
54, Tzar Boris III Blvd.
4441612 Sofia
Tel: (359) (2) 53-31-50
Fax: (359) (2) 952-10-60
e-mail: gssv2@discom.net

Montagi Co.
Soyan Hadjiev, Executive Director
3, 165th Street
Sofia 1797
Tel: (359) (2) 72-35-67; (359) (2) 971-28-74
Fax: (359) (2) 971-20-82
e-mail: montagi@nat.bg

Ingstroy
Ilia Tasev, Executive Director
1, Kukush Street
Sofia 1040
Tel: (359) (2) 920-00-44
Fax: (359) (2) 920-03-97
e-mail: ingstroy@einet.bg

d. Trade Publications

ABC
20, Tsar Simeon Street
Sofia 1202
Tel/Fax: (359) (2) 980-2708

ASPECTS OF DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND INVESTMENT
29, Shandor Petyofi Street
Sofia 1606
Tel: (359) (2) 954-9037
Fax: (359) (2) 954-9029

STROITELSTVO ("Construction")
12, Uzumjovska Street
Sofia 1000
Tel: (359) (2) 986-1090
Fax: (359) (2) 980-9367
e-mail: city@netvisio.net
website: http://www.city.news-bg.com/

WHO IS WHO IN BULGARIAN CONSTRUCTION
WHO IS WHO IN BULGARIAN ARCHITECTURE
Lotus Advertising
4, Kokiche Street, Fl. 3
Sofia 1421
Tel/Fax.: (359) (2) 65-6174
Tel/Fax: (359) (2) 656-836
e-mail: lotus@bol.bg
website: http://www.lotus.bol.bg/

5. Trade Promotion Opportunities

STROIKO 2000 October 25-31,2000, Sofia
STROIKO 2001 March 21-27, 2001, Sofia

Commercial Service Sofia organized the first U.S. Pavilion in the semi-annual STROIKO show in March 2000, and plans to organize a second U.S. Pavilion at the STROIKO to be held in March 2001. STROIKO is Bulgaria's biggest trade fair in the housing industry. The show provides the building community exposure to mostly European products and technology related to the home building industry, commercial building materials and equipment, as well as remodeling and home furnishings.

Contact information for STROIKO 2000:
Arch. Zdravko Gochev
National Palace of Culture
Tel/Fax: (359) (2) 963-06-05, 963-11-30, 952-10-04
e-mail: miniart@mail.erix.net

6. Regional Opportunities

Batimat is the only regional trade fair in the building and construction sector. It is held in March of each year in Istanbul, Turkey.

The contact information of the organizing company is as follows:
CNR
Tel: [90] (212) 663-0881
Fax: [90] (212) 663-0973
www.cnr.net
email: info@cnr.net

Source: US Dept. of Commerce - 2001