The implementation of the South Stream gas pipeline project is to start during this year, Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev said at a working meeting that took place in the town of Gabrovo. Through the project Bulgaria will ensure reliability of natural gas supply, while in the poorest region of the country - Northwestern Bulgaria, some 5000 new jobs will be created. Only Bulgarian companies will work on the project in this country and investments total 1.5 billion euro. This is not the only major project which the government favors, it was also announced. Bulgaria has also signed an agreement with Azerbaijan for the supply of 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Caspian Sea and implementation of the project is expected in 2019.