Business support
Validation date: 09/2011Overview
The key laws, covering assistance to business are:
-
Investment Promotion Act (ZNI)
-
SMEs Act (ZMSP)
-
Bulgarian Trades Act (ZZ)
-
Promotion of Employment Act (ZNZ)
Help for businesses
Private organisations
There is a range of non-governmental organisations able to provide specialists in various sectors who are able to advise local and international businesses. They have experts who can help companies abroad deal with institutions whenever there are language problems, and with drafting documents in Bulgarian in Cyrillic.
-
Industrial Association
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
-
Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum
Non-governmental organisations in Bulgaria have been set up to help enterprises to offer a range of services. Some (e.g. advice) is free, others are not.
- Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association
-
Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum
- Sofia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Public-private partnersnip
The government-founded Bulgarian Development Bank offers consultations and advice to businesses, as well as access to programmes for obtaining various types of credit in cooperation with their international partners.
Public organisations
The Ministry of Employment and Social Policy issues figures on employment levels in Bulgaria, releases information on the legal requirements for contracts of employment, and provides information about the labour market and financing programmes.
-
Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
There are also government mechanisms set up to provide assistance to SMEs, which constitute the majority of businesses operating in Bulgaria. The authority for supporting business by giving advice and providing access to information on obtaining credit and other services is the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Promotion Agency.
It gives financial assistance to small enterprises wishing to take part in international fairs. The Agency's website has a complete list of forthcoming trade exhibitions. In addition, it organises regular training programmes in business skills, business management and others. It also organises business forums and provides information on how to get in touch with trade missions and other business undertakings.
-
Training programmes
-
Business forums
The Bulgarian Investment Agency provides information on all legal issues relating to investments in Bulgaria, including tax and administrative procedures. It also gives access to a complete list of industrial zones in Bulgaria where companies may, under particular circumstances, make use of administrative support and tax concessions.
Still need help?
The Enterprise Europe Network provides businesses with information and advice through its local partners.
SOLVIT helps businesses deal with problems that arise when national authorities wrongly apply EU market rules.
