"We are witnessing processes that have placed Bulgaria permanently in the ranks of the frontrunners among the countries in accession talks with the EU and this trend has persisted in the first quarter of 2001," Finance Minister Mouravei Radev said at a special news conference. The real economic growth for 2000 was clocked at 5.8% and was powered mainly by the growth in the industrial sector. Industrial production grew by 15% last year. Export expanded by 24% in 2000. Government debt by the end of 2000 stood at BGN 20,617 million. Industrial sales climbed by 5.1% and export sales by 8.4% in the first four months of 2001. Investment growth in 2001 is projected at 21%.