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In Focus: The Story of "Е" - e-trade, e-services and e-marketing in Bulgaria; Analysis: The Balkans and Brussels: Summer Tales l Crisis Challenges Energy Sector issue 102 september 2009 AmCham Recommendations to the New Bulgarian Government American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria Business Park Sofia, Mladost 4 Area, Building 2, Floor 6, 1766 Sofia Tel.: (359 2) 9742 743 Fax: (359 2) 9742 741 homepage: www.amcham.bg e-mail: [email protected] editorial Dear Reader, On behalf of the American Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and our more than 300 member companies, I would like to congratu- late Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the Government of Bulgaria for their election to office, their formation to government and for the very ambitious and promising start to its mandate. It is our hope and desire that representatives of the business com- munity will embrace the efforts of the new government to move the country forward on all fronts. Furthermore, we hope that they will also view the new government as a leader in combating corruption at all levels, as a strong proponent of dialogue and coordination between business and the state institutions for the establishment and facilitation of a smooth and transparent investment process. In harmony with our strategic objectives, AmCham Bulgaria has become an active and constructive partner with the Bulgarian government in supporting U.S. and foreign invest- ments in Bulgaria, conducting advocacy for a more conducive business environment and enabling the implementation of state-of-the art business practices. The government’ stated main principles which will govern its actions – honesty, denouncing corrup- tion and preventing unlawful connections with criminal economic interests – have their roots in Bulgaria and are practiced by the most reputable businesses in Bulgaria, including those within the AmCham community. It is these principles in which we rely on as our strength, particularly during challenging times, times such as the changing of the political guard and during a financial crisis. We are here to support the government in its critical work to develop efficient anti-crisis measures. The chamber has been an active participant in consulting the government on budgetary and tax laws, as well as specific legislative initiatives and the development of strategic policy documents. We believe that there will be a productive dialogue between the executive power and the business community, specifically the foreign investors, on the development of the 2010 state budget. AmCham will be an active and steadfast partner of the government in its efforts toward more effi- cient national governance. During times of economic recession, we believe that the business com- munity must be involved in the identification of practical solutions for a better business environment. 2009 September Magazine AmCham Bulgaria Therefore, we express our hope for effective and efficient cooperation between business and the Government of Bulgaria in tandem with European practice and in the interest of Bulgarian citi- zens! Sincerely, Anthony C. Hassiotis page 1 President American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria contents issue 102 september 2009 AmCham Bulgaria Magazine is a primary forum for political and economic analyses, news, viewpoints as well as for the presentation of new business oppor- tunities. The articles in the AmCham Bulgaria Magazine express the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria. Publisher Writers: American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria Boyko Vassilev, Marina Tzvetkova, Business Park Sofia, Mladost 4 Area Mina Georgieva, Panayot Angarev, Building 2, Floor 6, Sofia 1766, Bulgaria Yuliana Boncheva Tel.: +359 (2) 9742 743 Fax: +359 (2) 9742 741 Advertising e-mail: [email protected] AmCham Bulgaria: www.amcham.bg Nadejda Vakareeva, [email protected] AmCham Bulgaria Magazine: Editor-in-Chief Milen Marchev, [email protected] Milen Marchev Deputy Editor-in-Chief: The AmCham Bulgaria Magazine reaches a broad audience Christopher Karadjov of AmCham members, leading US, Bulgarian and internation- al companies, US and Bulgarian decision-makers, all Senior Editor: AmChams around the world. Irina Bacheva Subscription is free of charge. If you would like to subscribe to AmCham Bulgaria publications, please contact the ISSN 1312-935X AmCham Bulgaria office. 2 AmCham Bulgaria Magazine September 2009 September Magazine AmCham Bulgaria amcham bulgaria Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria President Mr. Anthony Hassiotis Eurobank EFG Bulgaria Vice President Mr. Stefan Ivanov Citibank N.A. Vice President Ms. Tanya Kosseva-Boshova European Trade Center Contents Treasurer Mr. George Georgiev Motorola Bulgaria Letter to AmCham members Members Mr. David Butts CMS Cameron McKenna Bulgaria by Nancy McEldowney . 4 Mr. Atanas Garov Colliers International Bulgaria cover story Mr. Thomas Higgins Balkan Accession Fund Mr. Zachary Hampson Grenville Bulgaria Ms. Dana Leff PPD Bulgaria AmCham Recommendations to the Mr. Peter Lithgow AES Maritza East 1 New Bulgarian Government ...................................... 5 Mr. Bernard Moscheni Vivacom By AmCham Board of Directors Ex-Officio Member Mr. Scott Pozil US Senior Commercial Attache AmCham Meets With Executive Director Valentin Georgiev Minister Plevneliev And His Team ............................. 7 3M (East) AG . AA KRES EOOD . Abbott Laboratories S.A. Accor Services Bulgaria . ACO Building Elements politics Ltd. ACSIOR Ltd. Adecco Bulgaria ltd. ADIS Ltd. Advance International Transport (Balkan) EAD . AES Corporation . AFA OOD . AIG Bulgaria Insurance & Reinsurance Company EAD . AIG Life Bulgaria . AIMS Human The Borissov Cabinet: Capital . AIMS International Bulgaria EOOD . Air France Trade Representative . Alexander Hughes Bulgaria OOD . ALEXANDROV GROUP CORPORATION . Alfred C.Toepfer International . All Channels Communication . Alliance Traps and Opportunities .......................................... 8 One Tobacco Bulgaria . Allied Pickfords Bulgaria . Alter Ego Company . America for Bulgaria Foundation . American College of Sofia . American English Academy . American Resarch Center in Sofia . American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) . Anglo-American School of Sofia . Anton Preslavski, Liebert Hiross . Aon Bulgaria . APIS - focus BULGARIA Ltd. APOLO Ltd. Arco Capital Management LLC . Ashtrom International Ltd. Association Integra- BDS . Astra Zeneca UK Ltd. AT Engineering 2000 Ltd. Auditing Company Versi and Partners Ltd. AVON When the (E-)Client Is King ....................................16 Cosmetics Bulgaria . Axway Bulgaria EOOD . BAE Systems International Ltd. Balkan Accession Fund . Balkan News Corporation Plc. Balkan Star Automotive EOOD . Bayer Bulgaria EOOD . BC Serdon . BCD Travel Bulgaria By Momchil Milev . Berlitz Schools of Languages . BG Radio . BICA International . BMG Ltd. Bodyguard-Fire-K Ltd. Borislav Boyanov & Co. Boyden Ltd. Braykov's Legal Office . British American Tobacco Bulgaria . Brown Forman Beverages Worldwide Sofia Branch LLC . Buchanan Associates Europe EAD . Bulgarconsult AE EOOD . Bulgaria Online Marketing Works Everywhere! .......................22 Platinum Group EAD . Bulgarian American Enterprise Fund . Bulgarian Charities Aid Foundation (BCAF) . Bulgarian Development Bank . Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives . Bulgarian Land Development EAD . Bulgarian Property Developments EOOD . Bulgarian VIP Travel Ltd. Business Park Sofia EOOD . CallPoint New Europe AD . Social Media, Anyone? ...........................................23 Candole Partners EOOD . Car Rental Bulgaria Ltd. Cefin Bulgaria EOOD (IVECO dealer) . Center for the Study of Democracy . Chelopech Mining EAD . Cheque Dejeuner Bulgaria Ltd. Chris Thompson, Independent By Zoya Marincheva, Writer/Translator, San Antonio, Texas Consultant . Cisco Systems Bulgaria . Citibank N.A. - Sofia Branch . City University of Seattle . Civitas Global, A Ketchum Affiliate . Cleves EOOD . CMS Cameron McKenna EOOD . Coca-Cola HBC Bulgaria AD . Coface Bulgaria Credit Management Services EOOD . COLLIERS International Bulgaria . Construction Management Group Not Just for Fun ....................................................24 . ConsulTeam Recruitment and Selection Ltd. Cook Communications . Corstjens Worlwide Movers Group . CPM Consultancy Sllc . Crystal Developments LLC . Curtis / Balkan Ltd. D&IC (Dun and Bradstreet Representative) . By Irina Bacheva Dalkia Bulgaria EAD . DeConi International . Delchev & Partners Law Firm . Deloitte Bulgaria OOD . DENIMAR Ltd. denkstatt Bulgaria OOD . Dental Clinic Medical Dent Consult Ltd. Devin AD . DHL Express Bulgaria Ltd. Diageo Bulgaria Ltd . Diamed Ltd. Dimitrov, Petrov & Co. Djingov, Gouginski, Kyutchukov, & Velichkov . neighborhood Dobrev, Kinkin & Lyutskanov Law Firm . Domaine Boyar International AD . Dr. Emil Benatov & Partners . Dr. I.S. Greenberg Medical Center, Ellen Ruth Greenberg, Ph.D. DuPont Bulgaria EOOD . Economedia AD . EcoPack The Balkans and Brussels: Summer Tales ...............26 Bulgaria AD . Effekten Und Finanz - Sofia AD . Ekotoi - Service Ltd. Electron Progress EAD . Eli Lilly and Company . Elta Consult AD . Emerson Process Management AG . Emmis International . Emporiki Bank Bulgaria EAD . Enel Maritza East 3 AD . Enemona SA . Energo Service AD . Engineeringservice Sofia Ltd. Entrea By Boyko Vassilev Capital . Environmental Quality Management, Inc. Equest EAD . Equity Share International OOD . ERATO HOLDING Plc
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