According to a report by Sofia News Agency, due to poor production and financial results two of the cigarette making plants incorporated in the Bulgarian tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac which are located in Stara Zagora and Plovdiv are sold out, as the holding’s CEO Khristo Lachev announced 15 July 2006.

International and local companies have already expressed interest for the acquisition, and talks have been held with the economy ministry and the trade unions, Lachev added. Bulgartabac’s privatisation plan was developed earlier this year, seven of the holding’s facilities meant for sale by the end of 2006. This is not the first attempt to sell out the country’s tobacco monopoly, first declared to be planned for privatisation as far back as 1998. Since that time, various programmes for Bulgartabac’s sale have been offered several times, but without result. In the meantime, privatisation of the tobacco monopoly is among important stipulations of Bulgaria’s entering the European Union. (vt)