Petrich

A joint exercise is to be conducted on Saturday in Southwestern Bulgaria, at the border with Greece and near the one in Macedonia, in light of potentially increasing migratory pressure.

The drill will be held in the region of Petrich, Sandanski and Kulata, the latter being a major border crossing point with Greece.

The joint training "Border 2016", which will assess the readiness of Bulgaria's army and police to react in the event of a heightened migrant pressure, will be conducted on Saturday in the region of Petrich, Sandanski and Kulata.

This was announced by the interior and defence ministries on Friday.

Due to the introduction of bank holiday and capital controls, 60 000 Greek firms have readiness to redirect their business to Bulgaria.

Although Greek banks re-opened on Monday after remaining closed for three weeks, the funds of firms remain blocked in banks, leaving them unable to make payments to foreign suppliers.

Japanese dairy products maker Meiji has expressed interest in investing in Bulgaria's southwestern region of Petrich, according to a media statement of the Petrich Municipality.

Bulgaria's Deputy Economy Minister Lyuben Petrov met with representatives of Meiji in Sofia in early March.

The automobile of Petko Sertov, the former head of state security agency DANS who disappeared last Friday, was reportedly spotted near the town of Petrich, kilometers away from the Bulgaria-Greece Border.

The Interior Ministry's Chief Secretary said on Thursday authorities were investigating into the information, Darik Radio reports.

Police have detected cannabis weighing over 3600kg in two operations in fields near the village of Dragush, Petrich District, and the village of Laki, Gotse Delchev District.

From Euronews

More and more companies are fleeing Greece and setting up in Bulgaria because costs there are competitively lower. To survive the austerity-driven recession of the eurozone’s weakest member, entrepreneurs are seeking refuge in the EU’s poorest country.