Bulgaria Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, has backed economic data from April to show that the country is starting to recover from the financial crisis.

Djankov, speaking Wednesday on Nova TV, said that April will be the first month of 2010 in which the budget will be balanced after 3 months of growing deficits. He added that if it is shown that the growth of the budget deficit has been curbed, the country will have a “good year”.

Djankov continued by boasting that Bulgaria now has a higher credit rating than not only Greece but also than Portugal. “We have an excellent fiscal policy and we expect production to increase,” he added.

Regarding foreign investment, Djankov said that he expects a continuing decrease in 2010 due to the “severe crisis in Greece and the bad position of Romania.” He concluded that it is important to “wake up the construction sector to pull others forward.” He also noted that exports have grown for 5 consecutive months, while imports have declined, which is good for balance.