MEE prepared a draft of "Action Plan for Reindustrialization of Bulgaria for the Period 2014-2015"
The crisis made prerequisites for reconsidering the role of the industry and its importance to economic growth, investment, exports, employment and welfare of the population. For that reason, Europe defines more clearly the guidelines on the development of European industry relating to strengthening the conditions for a sustainable post- crisis economic growth through reindustrialization and modernization of industrial facilities. In that respect, the Bulgarian government through the Ministry of Economy and Energy (MEE) prepared a draft of "Action Plan for Rreindustrialization of Bulgaria for the Period 2014-2015". That stated the Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy Anna Yaneva during the conference "Industrialization and Sustainable Development" arranged by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum in the city of Plovdiv. The draft version of the plan is just one of the stages in implementation of the industrial policy. The main areas of action set out in the plan are: human capital and skills; access to financing; innovation and research in the industry; business environment; entrepreneurship; internationalization; investment and energy. The specified eight pillars of the industrial policy aim at improving the operational conditions of industrial enterprises. The plan for reindustrialization of the country is an open document, which is currently under amendment and supplement on the basis of recommendations and opinions not only by administrative structures at national level but also by branch organizations and trade unions in the country.
As regards the innovations, which are crucial for the economic development of the country, Deputy Minister Yaneva commented that BGN 20 million from the national budget for 2014 is provided under the programmes for their development. The available financial resources allow MME to undertake actions to improve the existing innovative environment within the year. In January, the government allocated BGN 10 million to the National Innovation Fund, as about BGN 6 million of the funds were allocated for financing the new projects of Bulgarian companies, and BGN 2 million were granted for the existing contracts under the 6th Assembly of the Fund. Currently, the results are extremely positive, and in January 2014 the 7th Assembly of the Fund was launched, on which a record number of 152 projects submitted for financing was reported. The forthcoming new competitive sessions will be announced by the end of 2015.