Sofia risks becoming 'faceless' city
An article published by Voxeurop on January 18 warns that Sofia could lose its identity if all proposed construction projects, mapped by IT specialist and activist Boyan Yurukov, are carried out. In response to growing public concern, mayor Vasil Terziev announced on Tuesday that he will personally sign urban planning orders and consider the city's overall development vision. While he is unlikely to handle this alone, the move signals a shift toward separating visionary planning from administrative duties, which were previously concentrated in the chief architect's office.
Although this change won't immediately halt construction, Terziev aims to implement measures that will shape the city's future. A competition for a new chief architect is expected to be announced in February, with a selection made by May.
Fabrico rising in prominence in industry
Industrial equipment maintenance software company Fabrico has secured a 640,000 euro investment from Sofia Angels Ventures and consumer goods manufacturer Ficosota, bringing its total external funding to 1.3 million euro. The company, which serves more than 70 manufacturers across industries such as automotive, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and food production, focuses on multi-location clients needing centralized production monitoring.
Fabrico's platform integrates data from various sources and locations, offering a unified Machine Master Data system. A key success story is its collaboration with ABB, where its solutions reduced unplanned downtime by 20% in a factory in Rakovski, leading to expansion into multiple sites, including those outside Bulgaria.
Eurozone compliance near for Sofia
Bulgaria may fulfill the price stability criterion required for eurozone entry this month and maintain compliance throughout the year, according to the latest macroeconomic forecast from the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB). The report highlights a steady decline in annual inflation between December 2023 and December 2024, outpacing the decrease in the eurozone price stability benchmark.
As of December 2024, the inflation criterion for EU countries stands at 2.4%, while Bulgaria's annual inflation rate of 2.6% exceeds it by just 0.13 percentage points. However, BNB warns of significant uncertainty surrounding inflation projections, influenced by domestic policy measures and broader economic trends across the EU.
Sofia risks becoming 'faceless' city
An article published by Voxeurop on January 18 warns that Sofia could lose its identity if all proposed construction projects, mapped by IT specialist and activist Boyan Yurukov, are carried out. In response to growing public concern, mayor Vasil Terziev announced on Tuesday that he will personally sign urban planning orders and consider the city's overall development vision. While he is unlikely to handle this alone, the move signals a shift toward separating visionary planning from administrative duties, which were previously concentrated in the chief architect's office.
