The company says it can help reverse local unemployment, promising 300 jobs in the construction phase and 230 jobs during the exploitation of the mine. ‘‘There are economic factors that cannot be ignored,’’ said Alex Nestor, the top public affairs official at Dundee Precious Metals and deputy chairman of the Bulgarian Mining Chamber, an industry group. ‘‘A large investment like ours will raise the standard of living in the whole municipality and will turn the wheel. There must be a change of thinking. Otherwise, the region will remain poor. The arguments against us are weak, based on emotion and irrational fears.’’ (Image by Dimiter Kenarov)