Japanese company Yazaki Bulgaria EOOD (YBE) is to invest in a new plant in Sliven for the production of cable assemblies for Ford Transit. The plant will be built by the end of June 2012 and create 500 jobs by the end of the year. The workforce is expected to increase to 1500 in 2013.

Already in 2006, Yazaki wanted to develop its business in Sliven. However, the plan did not go through as the management failed to reach agreement with the local authorities.

The company is 100% owned by the Japanese Yazaki Corporation and has already invested about BGN 60 million in the Bulgarian town Jambol and it is a major employer (with over 2200 employees) in South-eastern Bulgaria. The company is a world-leading manufacturer of cable equipment for some leading brands such as BMW, Opel, as well as many Japanese and Korean car manufacturers.