web: www.bscc.bg, YOUR CABLE SOLUTION OUR PRODUCTS OUR COMPETENCES High and low pressure injection molding Engineering / Consulting Spiral cables / coiled patch cables Manufacturing Energy Chains assembly Laboratory Control cabinets Trading Signal cables Power cord HOWAG OOD BG-7700 Targovishte www.howag.bg BSCC BULGARIAN-SWISS 2018 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PROMOTING PARTNERSHIPS ORGANISATION PROFILE March 2018 NMENT IRO ENV Content: TY Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, AddressesBILI 2 AINA ST Address by the Swiss Ambassador to BulgariaSU 3 Address by the Bulgarian Ambassador to Switzerland 4 About BSCC 6 The BSCC projects 8 NG BSCC Events 9 TI UL NS Bilateral Activities in 2017 10-11 CO BSCC Partners in Bulgaria 12 TH OW BSCC Partners in Switzerland 13 N GR ATIO IC UC OM BSCC – Partner in Social Projects 14 ED ON EC Bulgaria Facts and Figures 15 N CS ENTATIO Success stories of Swiss investments in Bulgaria 18 TI ES GIS EPR Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce, Members 24 LO R ES CY RI LI ST DU L PO SOCIA MEM IN P HI CE VI RS NMENT TNE L AD R IRO PA NCIA ENV NA FI Y RG N ENE EA CL NMENT IRO ENV TY BILI AINA ST SU NG TI UL NS CO TH OW N GR ATIO IC UC OM ED ON EC N CS ENTATIO TI ES GIS LO REPR ES CY RI LI ST DU L PO SOCIA MEM IN BSCC BULGARIAN-SWISSP HI CE VI RS NMENT TNE L AD R IRO 2018 PA NCIA ENV CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NA FI Y Dear Reader, RG BSCC’ Managing Board and Secretariat look forward N ENE EA CL to a better and peaceful 2018 and will continue Welcome to the new 2018 edition of the Bulgarian- to work hard for the development of the Chamber Swiss Chamber of Commerce (BSCC)’ brochure. and the safeguarding of its impeccable reputation. On behalf of the Managing Board of BSCC and Its relentless efforts aiming to promote and de- its Secretariat I take the opportunity to thank velop the economic relations between Bulgaria and H.E. Mr. Denis Knobel, Ambassador of Switzerland in Switzerland, to support its members, to cooperate Sofia, H.E. Mme. Meglena Plugchieva, Ambassador together with other local Chambers and the politi- of Bulgaria in Bern, and their teams for their un- cal leadership of Bulgaria to improve the business conditional support of BSCC throughout the years. and investment’ climate in the country by assisting Sincere thanks as well to BSCC’ valuable community the completion of the long awaited judicial reform of members and to all partners and related state and anticorruption efforts of the Bulgarian govern- institutions in Bulgaria and Switzerland for their ment, will continue. BSCC, being member of the UN precious contribution to the success of the Chamber. Global Compact, will keep on promoting its 10 prin- 2017 was a year which can be characterized as ciples leading to global sustainable development. one of permanent tension on the global political The Chamber will assist, as till now, the Bulgarian stage provoked by unresolved geopolitical issues, government in the successful introduction of the terrorists attacks, cyber attacks on state admin- dual-track principles in the Bulgarian vocational education system. BSCC will not forget its com- istrations and businesses, foreign intervention in mitment to social service, by namely 1) supporting various states’ political elections and internal af- the Roma minority integration and other socially fairs, independence referendums in Europe, a refu- oriented and charity-like projects; 2) continuing gee crisis which remains unresolved, Brexit, and its longtime cooperation with the Municipality of wars in the Middle East. None of these contributes Lausanne on the Restart Project, whereby more to global peace and economic development. Fur- than 5200 high quality recycled computers are do- thermore and most probably influenced by these nated to-date to NGOs, orphanages, municipalities, factors global foreign investment has diminished schools and hospitals throughout Bulgaria. drastically and this trend will remain for the years BSCC looks forward to welcome you among its fine to come as per the specialized agencies and re- community of members and friends and counts puted economic analysts. on your active support. 2018 seems to be a year during which the world political and economic leaders will attempt to protect the global economy from another finan- cial collapse and to tackle such important issues as international security, environment protection, rising nationalism, national protectionist policies, and poorly managed pension systems, among oth- Boni Bonev ers. The tone was given in January by the theme Chairman, of the first important gathering of the year, the Managing Board Davos World Economic Forum - “Creating a Shared Bulgarian-Swiss Future in Fractured World”. Chamber of Commerce 2 BSCC ADDRESS BY THE SWISS 2018 AMBASSADOR TO BULGARIA Time’s flying: I have already reached my 4th year visit since 14 years on 2 November, the President in Bulgaria and this is the 4th contribution to of the Swiss Confederation Doris Leuthard held the Annual Brochure of the Bulgarian – Swiss a public lecture on “Europe on the Road to a Chamber of Commerce (BSCC). Indeed, these Digital Future” in Sofia University and had fruit- have been quite intensive and exiting four years. ful official meetings with President Radev and Lots of events, visits, delegations, lots of hard Prime Minister Borissov. Last year, my Embassy work, but also lots of fun and satisfaction… My organized together with BSCC for the first time personal impression is that we – meaning the the so-called “Swiss Days in Sofia” including Embassy and BSCC – have walked a long and an exhibition on the Lover’s Bridge and several successful road and we have done a great job partnerships with Swiss companies. We don’t together for improving the presence of Swiss forget of course our dearest common project: the business in Bulgaria. In concrete and practical so-called “SwiSSSoirée” that in last September ways we have tried to support companies and celebrated already its 3rd edition… entrepreneurs and to promote economic rela- All these common successes were built on a tions between our two countries. In fact, if we solid relationship and excellent partnership with look at trade figures, Swiss exports to Bulgaria the board, the secretariat and the members of 2013-17 have grown more than 25% - reaching BSCC, based on trust, respect and clear roles. NMENT new record levels. Also concerning investments, IRO For a Swiss Ambassador it’s a real privilege and ENV Switzerland ranges among the ten main foreign pleasure to work with such a Chamber! For this direct investors in Bulgaria. By investing around unique experience and our cooperation please 470 Mio Euros in ten years, Swiss companies TY accept a big Blagodarjia!BILI Thank you! have created here nearly 9000 jobs. AINA Denis KnobelST Let me mention just two major highlights in SU our cooperation during the last four years: The first was of course the Economic visit of Sec- retary of State Mrs. Ineichen–Fleisch to Bul- garia in June 2016. She was accompanied by NG TI an important business delegation from “econo- UL NS miesuisse” and opened the biggest Swiss busi- CO ness conference in Sofia over the last decade. TH The second was the so-called “Forum Process” OW N GR ATIO IC organized by BSCC with all main stakeholders in UC OM ED H.E. Mr. Denis KnobelON the framework of our dual education program EC Extraordinary and N “Domino”. The last Forum was successfully con- Plenipotentiary CS ENTATIO cluded by Swiss President D. Leuthard and Dep- TI ES AmbassadorGIS of the uty Prime Minister T. Donchev last November. Swiss ConfederationLO REPR We can see similar positive results if we look to the Republic of ES CYBulgaria RI at last year (2017): during the first Presidential LI ST DU L PO SOCIA MEM IN 3 P HI CE VI RS NMENT TNE L AD R IRO PA NCIA ENV NA FI Y RG N ENE EA CL NMENT IRO ENV TY BILI AINA ST SU NG TI UL NS CO TH OW N GR ATIO IC UC OM ED ON EC N CS ENTATIO TI ES GIS LO REPR ES CY RI LI ST DU L PO SOCIA MEM IN BSCC ADDRESSP BY THE BULGARIAN HI CE VI RS NMENT TNE L AD R IRO 2018 PA NCIA ENV AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND NA FI Y Ladies and Gentlemen, RG 2017 a conference in Berne with the high level rep- N ENE EA In my capacity as AmbassadorCL of the Republic of resentatives of the politics from both sides and the Bulgaria to the Swiss Confederation and the Prin- business. I share with you my confidence that we cipality of Liechtenstein it is my great honor and will continue our collaboration and joint efforts to privilege to address you hereby from the pages of assist and stimulate the further positive political the annual booklet of the Bulgarian-Swiss Cham- willingness to fulfil the deep reform in the Bulgarian ber of Commerce in Sofia, to thank the Chamber vocational education, which is on key importance for and you for the good cooperation in 2017 as well successful business and economic development. as to extend my most sincere wishes for health and The economic and trade relationships between every success in the year of 2018, a special year Switzerland and Bulgaria represent another impor- of the First Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of tant part of the overall bilateral relations.I strongly the EU under the motto: “United We stand Strong!“ believe that the two countries have to continue to In political context looking back to the last 5-years I look for more possibilities for further deepening of have to thank especially the Swiss Embassy in Sofia the positive bilateral economic and trade relation- for the excellent collaboration.