President Rosen Plevneliev participated in the regular session of the Board of Directors of BCCI

Employers’ organizations will be represented in three presidential councils, said the President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev during his participation in the regular session of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Head of State said that he expects the Chamber to take active participation in the councils. He expressed appreciation of BCCI’s important position in society and its initiatives in support of entrepreneurs. A match of the priorities laid down in his presidential programme and the main areas for development included in BCCI’s programme documents until 2020 adopted by the General Assembly in 2009 was noted. The President evaluated highly the Chamber’s commitment to expanding the collective social responsibility.

Before the business representatives President Plevneliev confirmed that he will hold broad discussions before making key decisions related to Bulgaria’s future, will defend the priorities of energy efficiency, energy safety and independency, and will encourage the country’s active participation in all major debates concerning the future of Europe.

A common position was expressed on the creative social and economic integration of minority groups, as well as strengthening the relations with the Bulgarian Diaspora and its adherence to the economic life and national aspirations of Bulgaria.

The Board of Directors of BCCI adopted the 2011 Report and the Programme for 2012. Despite the difficult economic situation, the Chamber achieved its programme goals and fulfilled its financial plans for 2011. This is a prerequisite and provides suitable conditions for the successful implementation of this year’s programme.

According to last year’s report, in 2011 significant growth in the number of members of the Chamber and the registered Trade Representation Office of foreign persons was marked. The interest towards the services related to the issuance of foreign trade documents (Certificates of Origin, References for companies, Force-majeure Certificates) increased, which is significant of the increasing trust in BCCI and its commanding authority.

The number of trade documents certified by the regional chambers of commerce and industry doubled as a result of BCCI’s policy to bring its services nearer to the businesses in the regions.

The role of the Council of Sectorial Organizations and its initiatives aimed at solving specific sectorial problems strengthened.

Relations with the various regions of the country improved and in over half of them meetings with the local businesses and administration were held.

The authority of the Arbitration Court improved, and a full digitalization of services was achieved – a quality which few courts of arbitration worldwide can boast.

An average of 200 companies daily seek the Chamber’s services in the central office in Sofia, which amounts to almost 54 000 for the entire year.

Some of the Chamber’s achievements in 2011 include: the successful presidency of the Association of Balkan Chambers /ABC/; setting up a Club of Joint Chambers and Foreign Chambers in Bulgaria; establishing an award for Commercial Representative Office of our country abroad. The session of the Board of Directors enjoyed the active participation of its members and the Programme for 2012 was expanded with new ideas and initiatives important for the achievement of the Chamber’s goals. Most of the proposals were targeted at increasing BCCI’s efficiency in support of business, expanding the scope of services provided, looking for new sources of funding of the activity in addition to the standard existing ones.

The emphasis in this year’s programme is put on: EUROPEAN PROJECTS – INNOVATION – E-COMMERCE – INCREASING THE COMPETENCE OF THE LABOUR FORCE.

The Programme is available on BCCI’s website and is open for proposals and initiatives of its members.

The speech of President Rosen Plevneliev (in Bulgarian) before the Board of Directors of BCCI is available in the enclosed video file: http://www.bcci.bg/videos/view/69