site.btaEconomy Minister Stoyanov: Real Employer of Trade Advisors Abroad Is Bulgarian Business

Opening the annual meeting of trade and economic affairs advisors here on Tuesday, caretaker Economy and Industry Minister Nikola Stoyanov said that their real employer is the Bulgarian business, represented by employer organizations and trade unions. “The moment a Bulgarian company is not serviced properly, the question what is the need for a Trade and Economic Affairs Service arises,” he noted.

More investments and greater interest equals better working conditions, and that matters to trade unions, Stoyanov went on to say. It is important to work with the local authorities as well, which is why representatives of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria attended the meeting. “The close coordination between these sides is a job of the Ministry and my team,” the Economy Minister said.

At present, one-third of the positions at the Trade and Economic Affairs Service are vacant, for example in France, Italy, China, the US, and India, Stoyanov said, adding that he has no explanation why that is the case.

Many of the big companies intend to move their production closer to Europe and shorten the supply chains. That is an opportunity for Bulgaria. “We are preparing a new investment promotion act to improve the business environment,” the Minister noted.

Innovation and Growth Minister Alexander Pulev confirmed that he is working in close cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Growth.

Aid to the amount of BGN 735 million has been prepared for the most vulnerable segment of companies by this year’s end, he said. The largest share of the money - BGN 600 million - comes from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. A Technological Modernization procedure for BGN 260 million is open for applications by September 21.

The meeting was attended in person by the Bulgarian trade attaches to 26 countries; the rest joined the event online.