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What kind of yardstick is used for measuring investments?

БНР Новини
Oil is stronger than the fear of "Boko Haram".
Photo: archive

A recent poll showed that Bulgaria fails to keep up with global competition and to attract the interest of investors. This country ranks 47th out of 49 countries included in a survey concerning the attractiveness for doing business. This is what a poll of the CNBC business television, conducted among viewers of the television, interested in investments, shows. The curious thing is that Bulgaria places behind countries like Nigeria and Peru. Wonderful! Surveys and statistics are a good thing for the sake of convenience. In this case, it would be interesting if CNBC told us statistically, what these investors are actually interested in.

Now about Nigeria and Peru.

Nigeria is rich in natural resources and is among the 10 largest oil exporters in the world. After a long period of political instability, Nigeria is today one of the largest economies in Africa and is among the fastest growing countries in the world. It is a regional economic and military power, but widespread corruption and sporadic violence in some regions continue to be a problem for the country. According to the UN, Boko Haram Islamists have killed over 7,300 civilians in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries since the beginning of 2014, including 1,000 people this year. About 1.5 million people have been displaced since May 2013 in the areas under the control of "Boko Haram," which wants to establish an Islamic state. Well, who would miss investing in Nigeria? Oil is stronger than the fear of "Boko Haram".

Peru is a country of 1.3 million square kilometres and population of 25.6 million people. Peru produces more than 40 types of minerals (silver, zinc, copper, lead, iron ore, tin, bismuth, tungsten, selenium, gold), as well as oil, natural gas, most valuable tree species, rubber, and of course, guano. However, a series of military regimes and guerrilla wars in recent decades have worsened the social situation in the country. According to UN data, 50% of Peruvians live in poverty. Economic problems lead to 7,000% inflation. But the country is attractive for investments, so who cares about the Peruvians? Or who cares about us?! Still, Bulgaria is not a third-world country and is a member of the EU. The fact that investments are not primarily in the mining industry but in areas that are less capital-intensive, does not necessarily mean a catastrophic future for investments in Bulgaria. Also investments shrank after the global financial crisis of 2008

For the period 2005-2014, investments in Bulgaria total 35 billion euros, according to the National Bank and Bulgarian Investment Agency has certified a total of 185 investment projects totaling 13 billion euros. These are 37% of all investments in the country and they have revealed 60,000 new jobs. Is this a lot or not? Well CNBC should make a poll and tell us! Bulgarians know their problems - justice system, corruption, bureaucracy. Still, there have always been investments and there will be, if someone was so worried!

English: Alexander Markov




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