BCCI took part in the IOE regional meeting

The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tsvetan Simeonov and experts of the Chamber took part in the International Organization of Employers (IOE) regional meeting for Europe and Central Asia, which was held online.

The new President of the International Organization of Employers - Michelle Parmelee sent a video address to the participants in the meeting and wished them success in the upcoming activities.

The participants in the meeting discussed the challenges facing employers' organizations in the post-pandemic period. Issues related to economic recovery, teleworking, change in the priorities of organizations and companies were also discussed.

The President of BCCI gave a brief overview of the situation in the country, the upcoming elections and the budget update. BCCI is noticing signs of economic recovery – more tangible in tourism and slower in transport in Bulgaria. He identified tourism and the organization of fairs, conferences and exhibitions as the sectors that have been most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The President of BCCI pointed out that according to a study conducted by the Chamber, 64% of Bulgarian companies have taken steps to digitize their work processes, of which only 6% have used state aid and 2% EU funds to this end. He described this as a clear signal to the institutions and the EU for a quick response and easier access to funds for SMEs in the conditions of a crisis.