BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB[Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or
IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or
MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon
SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic
Forces or UDF [Nadezhda MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD
[Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition
of center-right parties dominated by UDF)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB;
Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and
national interest groups with various agendas
International organization participation:
ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU
(applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387–0174
FAX: [1] (202) 234–7973
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEW
embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740
Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521–5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937–5100
FAX: [359] (2) 937–5230
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; note -
the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe,
has been removed
Economy Bulgaria
Economy - overview:
Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European
Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth
since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then
socialist government. As a result, the government became committed
to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals,
including coal, copper, and zinc play an important role in industry.
In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition of
a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark and the
negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady
progress on structural reforms improved the business environment;
Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract
significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the
public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of
organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$61.63 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.5% industry: 30.1% services: 58.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 3.398 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 11%, industry 32.7%, services 56.3% (3rd quarter 2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:
12.7% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:
13.4% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.5% highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $9.67 billion
expenditures: $9.619 billion, including capital expenditures of NA
(2004 est.)
Public debt:
41.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley,
sunflowers, sugar beets
Industries:
electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery
and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined
petroleum, nuclear fuel
Industrial production growth rate:
5.2% (2004 est.)
