SOFIA, August 20, 2024 -The Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency (BRIA) will count on the World Bank's strategic advice in the roads sector over the next 30 months through a Reimbursable Advisory Services Agreement signed today by Yordan Valchev, Chairman of BRIA's Management Board, and Lasse Melgaard, World Bank Resident Representative for Bulgaria, Czechia, and Slovakia.
The World Bank will contribute to the strategic planning of Bulgaria's long-term roads sector development, including investments and revenue collection, by providing analysis, expertise, and best practices in the areas of road financing (both new construction and maintenance), climate resilience, and improvement of BRIA's efficiency and effectiveness.
"This engagement provides yet another demonstration of the World Bank's global knowledge and it builds upon our decade-long partnership in the sector. Since 2015 we have provided strategic advice in road assets management, maintenance and planning, road safety monitoring, and the introduction of the e-tolling system in Bulgaria. We are delighted to continue bringing the best of our experience to this critical sector for the benefit of all Bulgarians," said Lasse Melgaard, the World Bank's Resident Representative for Bulgaria, Czechia, and Slovakia.
Reimbursable Advisory Services are a flexible and adaptable World Bank instrument offered to middle- and high-income countries at their request. Under these programs, the World Bank can work with countries by providing advisory services, analytical services, and implementation support, the costs of which are then reimbursed to the World Bank upon delivery.