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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.
Global Real Estate Project
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Vietnam: New look30 years after the end of the Vietnam War this Asian country offers the world a new look completely different from the one that still hunts the memories of many American war veterans. After completing its national unification and after been abandoned by its former communist "allies" that had no other interests in the region except to counter the U.S. influence, Vietnam had to modernize on its own. The new capitalist economy coexisting with old communist political system is a strange symbiosis of two different worlds, one of which will perish, no matter how long this will take and at what cost. 3 decades ago Vietnam was finally at peace, but at what price? The country that had been at war for another 3 decades was predominantly rural, poor, hungry, militarized, polarized, over-populated, mined, contaminated and holding many other nightmarish traits. The communist political system that had at least made possible accelerated industrialization in the Soviet Union and some East European countries at enormous human costs, failed completely in Vietnam till the very end of the Soviet block. Those who knew how to fight were unable to organize the peaceful life in the days after. On the other hand, the Chinese economic miracle convinced the political leadership in Hanoi that it was possible to have capitalist economy and keep the political control over the population at the same time. Starting late Vietnam began market economic reforms in early 1990s when the Soviet Union imploded after having finally decided to abandon its former clients to their fates. The initial reforms were too little too late and the first wave of changed was put to an end by the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998. In 2000-2001 the second wave of reforms began, this time going much wider and deeper, allowing foreign investment and entrepreneurship in many more fields. The country formally applied to become WTO member. The American market now represents one of the main engines for quick development. Many western businesses have relocated to Vietnam taking to the country thousands of western specialists. The results can be seen by anyone who goes to Vietnam. They are appreciated especially by those who can remember the country during its non-capitalist past. The boom is seen in and around the two biggest cities in the country; it covers not only industrial and office premises, but also residential real estate market for people with different budgets. The large villas and houses within gated communities can reach $500,000. The luxury apartments in condo projects are within $100-200,000 range. What's especially surprising is that in the country where people officially make less than $1,000 per year many are ready to pay cash for apartments that cost $30-50,000. Perhaps this isn't so surprising given the large and thriving sector of unaccounted economic activity. What can really surprise the visitors, especially those coming from Western countries, is that the local population has extremely friendly attitudes toward the westerners, including the Americans. Such attitudes may only be of help for growing international relations of the country that desperately needs more investments, more foreign specialists and more technological expertise. Given the traditional rivalry between Vietnam and its huge neighbor China for influence over Indochina and the growing influence of Beijing in the world, it won't be surprising to see in a mid-term some establishment of security links between the communist Vietnam and its former archenemy the United States. To paraphrase one Asian expert, if China's neighbors have to chose between a world dominated by China or by America (two options they both dislike), they will finally chose America.
Country profile: --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Vietnam.
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