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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.

He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.

In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.

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As soon as 10 years from now we may be witnessing the official opening of the longest bridge in the world, linking Asia and Africa between Yemen and Djibouti. This close to 30-kilometer technological marvel may cost up to $20 billion. When accomplished, it will link two regional markets, the Middle East with its booming population and consumption, and Africa with its agricultural exports. The bridge itself, as spectacular as it will be, will be dwarfed by urban developments that will explode along its two far ends. At least $100 billion will be spend on building residences and infrastructures that will accommodate a million new residents, and this is a very conservative estimate.

10 years from now or even earlier, the longest bridge in the world, linking Asia and Africa, may be already a reality. This project will cost up to $20 billion. Sheikh Tarek Mohammed Bin Laden, a half-brother of Osama, representing the Saudi-based construction conglomerate Bid Laden Group, will be at the center of the project. The bridge will link Yemen and Djibouti. The bridge itself will link two desert areas, areas that so far have been completely neglected by both investors and local population.

The main goal behind the project is to link two regional markets that need each other. The Middle East is in the midst of its new oil boom. The population is growing too. More people can buy more goods. The natural and climatic limitations of the Arabian Peninsula, however, make impossible feeding this booming population without importing the bulk of food from other regions of the world. On the other hand, many African countries, despite their booming population, are capable of exporting affordable food. For political reasons the Middle East would prefer not to buy food from the West; other political reasons make almost impossible for Africa to export food toward the same rich Western countries. Food-exporting Africa and food-importing Middle East are therefore natural trade partners. Large parts of Africa, especially along the Indian Ocean coast, are predominantly Muslim. Building a transportation bridge between Yemen and Djibouti will facilitate economic development in these Muslim societies.

The initial price tag of the bridge may look prohibitive. The developers, however, have certain options that will turn this cost into possible benefits. They plan to invest money into the project in exchange of having property rights over the land of the adjacent desert territories. The bridge will increase the traffic and make this land worth much more than right now. It's the same way that railroad companies in the 19th c. developed the American and Canadian West. These companies invested massively into railroads, but the governments guaranteed them the property rights along the roads. The economic development that followed the railroads paid with the interests for the initial investments.

One or two cities, in total of 1,000 sq. kilometers may be built out of the desert. When accomplished, these urban areas will be populated by up to 1 million people; not counting the poor migrant workers that will occupy the cities' outskirts. These 1 million will be businesspersons that manage the growing trade between Africa and the Middle East. At least $100 billion may be spend on building residences, warehouses and other necessary infrastructures that will accommodate these new residents, and this is our most conservative estimate.

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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Djibouti and Yemen.