Bulgaria's regional development minister, Ivan Shishkov, is in Vratsa and Botevgrad today for the "Regions Speak" initiative. At 9:30 a.m. he inspected repairs on the Mezdra-Botevgrad road.

At 10:00 a.m. he met regional governor Rosen Mihaylov and local mayors at the regional administration building in Vratsa. A media briefing followed at 11:30 a.m.

At 2:30 p.m. Shishkov is due in Botevgrad, where he will meet mayors and officials from Botevgrad, Pravets, Etropole and Svoge at the town hall. A briefing there is set for around 3:30 p.m.

Shishkov says the visits are meant to show water supply and infrastructure problems firsthand, so officials can decide where help is needed, how, and how much. "We are starting to take an active part in visits to Bulgaria's municipalities. We want to see the problems - we want to see them on the ground," he said.

"Regions Speak" is a ministry of regional development and public works initiative. Shishkov announced it in the first half of last month, after a cabinet meeting.

Before Vratsa and Botevgrad, the minister visited Haskovo and Kardzhali on September 28, and Varna on August 21. On August 17 and 18 he visited the Varna, Dobrich, Shumen and Pleven regions, and on August 31 and September 1 he was in the Ruse and Pleven regions.