A solemn ceremony marked the 130th anniversary of the establishment of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

On December 3, at the Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel in the capital, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry celebrated 130 years since its founding.

Official guests of the event were Rumen Radev, President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Prince Boris Tarnovski - grandson of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and descendant of Ferdinand I, ministers, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members, partners and friends of the BCCI.

“Chambers of Commerce are an institution that society still cannot do without,” said the President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsvetan Simeonov, at the opening of the ceremony. "The BCCI is managed in such a way as to create a sustainable position. For years to come, there should be certainty that it will continue to fulfill its functions, goals and tasks set out in the statute and will continue to take care of the Bulgarian economy and Bulgarian business."

In his welcome address, the Head of State Rumen Radev highlighted the significant contribution of the Chamber to the modern economic development of the country and defined its activity as a bridge between the state and business. Rumen Radev recalled that the BCCI is the oldest organization of Bulgarian entrepreneurs and the oldest chamber in Bulgaria, and in his words, its impressive historical path has been inextricably linked to the history of Bulgarian statehood over the decades. “We have been actively cooperating with your team since the beginning of my presidential term and I have always been impressed not only by your dedication to the development of a strong and competitive economic environment in Bulgaria, but also by the solid expertise that you have accumulated in all sectors of the Bulgarian economy,” the President pointed out and welcomed the Chamber’s commitment to the country’s socio-economic problems and the vision it presented for solving them.

The Head of State honored the Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsvetan Simeonov, with the Presidential Badge of Honor. The award was presented for the chamber's contribution to the development of the modern Bulgarian economy and the expansion of Bulgaria's foreign trade relations, as well as for the fruitful cooperation with state institutions in the interests of business and citizens.

During the ceremony, awards were presented in 6 categories.

In the category "Companies with a long history and sustainable presence in the Bulgarian economy" the following were awarded a bronze statuette "Hermes", accompanied by a diploma:

Express Service Ltd. – successor to a workshop for servicing locomotives on the first railway line in our country – Ruse – Varna, founded in 1866. Heir to the Vasil Kolarov Railway Plant. The award was accepted by the manager, Tsvetelin Kolev.

Arsenal AD – direct successor to the first arms factory in our country – “Rousse Artillery Arsenal”, founded in 1878. The award was accepted on behalf of the company by Director of Finance and Economics, Georgi Bonchev.

LB Bulgarikum EAD – successor of the enterprise "Bulgarian Milk" established in 1893 and the DSO "Dairy Industry". The award was accepted by the executive director Nikolay Stoynev.

Mondelez Production Bulgaria OOD – successor of the first industrial chocolate factory in our country, founded in 1924. The award was accepted on behalf of the company by the manager Kiril Kirilov.

In the category "Persons with special merits to the BCCI and the business environment in Bulgaria" awards were presented to:

Ferdinand I, who as Prince of the Bulgarians issued a Decree approving the Law on Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Bulgaria and marking the beginning of the system of chambers of commerce and industry (industrial chambers) in the Principality of Bulgaria. The award was accepted by Prince Boris Tarnovski.

Bozhidar Bozhinov - one of the most significant figures in the modern history of the BCCI, who has held key leadership positions for more than three decades. Bozhinov's leadership coincides with some of the most dynamic years for the Bulgarian economy and for the establishment of the Chamber as a nationally and internationally recognized institutional partner, the organizers point out.

Hristo Grigorov, member of the Bulgarian Red Cross and member of the BCCI Board of Directors, with active positions on topics related to the Chamber's activities, and with a significant contribution to achieving its goals and objectives.

Konstantin Glavanakov, who has participated in the activities of the BCCI since 1984 in various leadership positions and contributes to the establishment of the BCCI as a leading institution working for the development and deepening of the trade and economic relations of our country with foreign partners.

H.E. Philippe Beke – Belgian historian, economist and lawyer, long-time diplomat and honorary ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in our country, received an honorary diploma for his active work for the development of bilateral economic and cultural relations, and for supporting Bulgarian integration into the European Union, during his mandate in Bulgaria /December 2003 – September 2008/.

Emanuel Vlahoyannis, an established economist, entrepreneur and long-time leader in the commercial and industrial circles of Greece, honorary chairman of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also received an award for his ten-year work for the development of Bulgarian-Greek trade relations.

The International Organization of Employers (IOE) was selected for the award in the category “Long-standing Partner of the BCCI”. The International Organization of Employers is the only recognized representative of all employers in the activities of the International Labor Organization and its bodies. Founded in 1920, the International Organization of Employers unites over 150 national employers’ organizations from more than 140 countries, including Bulgaria. Roberto Suarez Santos – Secretary-General of the organization, accepted the award.

In the category "Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry", the award went to the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), founded 5 years (1890) before the establishment of the system of chambers of commerce in Bulgaria. The award was accepted by the Chairman of the RCCI, Milen Dobrev.

In the category "Branch Organization" an award was received by the "National Industry Union of Bakers and Confectioners" (NBSCC), with the award being accepted by the President of the NBSCC, Mariana Kukusheva. The National Industry Union of Bakers and Confectioners continues to preserve Bulgarian baking traditions, while encouraging innovation and the creation of new products that win awards and recognition.

In the “Media” category, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency and the Bulgarian National Radio were awarded for active and objective coverage of the positions of the BCCI and its members on current economic issues.

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