InvestBulgaria Agency April 2014 InvestBulgaria Agency issue 4 (7), year 2 Economic News - Business, Investments, Trade Analysis of Sector Investment Opportunities of Municipality Monthly Interview Electronic Publication Chambers of Commerce in Bulgaria Macroeconomic Indicators Upcoming Events INVESTBULGARIA AGENCY Opening statement of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Prof. Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Dimitar Grekov Prof. Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Dimitar Grekov Minister of Agriculture and Food He graduated in 1984 at the Agricultural University, majoring agronomist. In 1988 he defended PhD at the same university and started work as an assistant in the Department of "Animal Science". From 1995 to 2010 he was an associate professor in the same department. Between 1999 and 2007 he was Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy in Agricultural University - Plovdiv. In 2010 he became Professor and Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. In 2007 he was elected Rector of the Agriculture University. Since 29 May 2013 he is Minister of Agriculture and Food. He has 125 scientific publications, 45 of which abroad in the field of cultivation technology and trade, the silkworm; genetics, breeding and feeding of farm animals. Head of five PhD candidates, three of whom have successfully defended and of 80 graduates. Ladies and Gentlemen, Bulgaria is a country with agricultural potential, which has very good conditions for the development of environmentally friendly agricultural production, which can provide both employment for many people and a good income. Under the EU funds for the period 2014 - 2020 in the field of agriculture, our country will receive BGN 15 billion. This money is a major source not only for the development of the agricultural sector in the country, but also for its modernization and competitiveness in the conditions of a market economy. Ministry of Agriculture and Food conducts transparent policy so that the Bulgarian agricultural production can become more competitive, produce output with high added value through efficient utilization of available resources. Investment implementation of measures under the Program for rural development (2014-2020), will reveal the serious potential of competitiveness of Bulgarian agriculture amid market economy. The new program will have a special measure "Investments in tangible assets" under which you may purchase equipment. Through InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA), 31 Aksakov Str., Sofia 1000 tel.: (+359 2) 985-5500, Fax: (+359 2) 980-1320 e-mail: [email protected], http://www.investbg.government.bg issue 4 (7)/ April 2013 InvestBulgaria Agency it, farmers will facilitate their work in the field and will be able to increase the quantitative indicators of their yields. We all know that modern farming is done with modern agricultural machinery. The future vision of the Bulgarian agriculture is largely a function of the current status of the industry and the development of the CAP in the period 2014-2020. What is needed is a policy that is as simple, flexible and transparent as possible. The rules should ensure optimum utilization of available funds to show people the effectiveness of public investments in agricultural policy. For Bulgaria it is important to have strong European direct payments to farmers. Direct payments supplement income, provide economic security and can provide a fair standard of living. The introduction of the so called "Green" direct payments is yet to be introduced. Our ambition is to use it so as to bring the greatest possible environmental benefits without compromising the viability of the sector. "Green" payments aim at a high degree of political legitimacy of costs of the Common Agricultural Policy. They are a way to demonstrate the public importance of the agricultural policy is not only to provide food but also as a factor in the environmental sustainability of the area. Priority for Bulgaria in reform was bound support in certain sectors. Our country has made its priority to increase bound support as we agreed 13% bound support targeted at sensitive and important for us sectors such as livestock, fruit and vegetables. This will allow the improvement of the ratio between payments. Through this kind of direct payments we can be support sectors with special problems. Bulgaria achieved its principle priority for simple application of direct payments. The country will be entitled to a scheme based on area without introducing payment rights by 2020, thus saving the need for farmers to adapt to the new, more complex systems and significantly reducing administrative costs. The future CAP will implement simple and specific scheme for small farmers to reduce the administrative costs associated with the management and control of direct support. For additional direct support to young farmers will be set a separate budget of about 2% of the package for direct payments. The scheme provides young farmers to receive higher direct subsidy. The European Union should respond to these challenges by continuing the development of the Common Agricultural Policy in the 2014-2020 period in the direction of more competitive and market-oriented agriculture, more efficient use of public resources in order to meet the expectations of society for quality and safe food produced in environmentally friendly way. Prof. Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Dimitar Grekov IBA - the only public institution at "Golden Apple of Success" On 24 April the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, jointly with the Center for Career Development at the University and the Agency for career development and education Fortedo, organized for the second consecutive year a career forum "Golden Apple of success”. In the Aula Magna of the University and lounges in front of it students had the opportunity to meet with employers offering jobs and internship positions in various professional fields. The purpose to make such an exhibition is to find employers for students of all majors of the University. InvestBulgaria Agency (BIA) participated in the forum and was the only public institution represented at the Sofia University. Agency staff presented the internship program of IBA and the new initiative Summer Academy. Attention was drawn to internship positions such as graphic design, e- marketing, international marketing, statistics, creating databases, etc. Summer Academy is a new initiative of IBA, which was launched with the intention to offer students the opportunity to learn about its work and gain practical insight about the process of attracting foreign investors. page 2 of 29 InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA), 31 Aksakov Str., Sofia 1000 tel.: (+359 2) 985-5500, Fax: (+359 2) 980-1320 e-mail: [email protected], http://www.investbg.government.bg issue 4 (7)/ April 2013 InvestBulgaria Agency The program will be held in July and the period is consistent with the academic calendar and does not hinder regular classes of students. Documents for the Summer Academy and open internship positions of the Agency will be accepted until June 10 at e-mail: [email protected] INITIATIVES OF INVESTBULGARIA AGENCY Open internship positions at the InvestBulgaria Summer academy of InvestBulgaria Agency for students Agency for students: InvestBulgaria Agency (BIA) organizes Summer Academy • Administration of web site; of IBA in July 2014. The aim is to enable everyone to get acquainted with the functioning and operation of the • Analyses, statistics and databases; Agency on investment projects. • Graphic Design; Within the month of July 2014, every Thursdays will be • E-marketing held 4 different modules that will include ways of working • International Marketing; in the departments of IBA, participation in meeting with a potential investor, participation in the process of fulfilling • Philology - English, Russian, German; a task, as well as meetings - discussions with representatives of foreign chambers of commerce and managers of global companies investing in Bulgaria. For more information, please click here In case of interest in participating, please send your CV and motivational letter no later than 10 June 2014 at e- mail: [email protected] Meeting with French business in Invest Bulgaria Agency InvestBulgaria Agency launched an initiative to hold regular meetings with representatives of foreign business in Bulgaria as part of an active campaign to attract foreign investors in the country. Thus the first workshop with representatives of the French business was held In IBA. Mr. Jean-Marie de Mange - Head of the Regional Economic Service of the Republic of France in the Republic of Bulgaria; Mr. Stefan Gyula - President of the French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Vladimir Galabov - external relations and partnerships to Francophone Institute of Administration and Management / FIAU /, as well as representatives of various French companies in the Bulgarian market were present at the meeting. Mr. Svetoslav Mladenov – IBA’s CEO, welcomed the guests and allowed each of them to share their working experience in Bulgaria. Mr De Mange made a brief overview of the status and development of the FDI flow in Bulgaria on the French side and outlined the most - attractive sectors for French business: insurance sector, industry /pharmaceutical, textile, outsourcing, etc. He pointed out that Bulgaria is a good destination for investors due to its economic stability. page 3 of 29 InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA), 31 Aksakov Str., Sofia 1000 tel.: (+359 2) 985-5500, Fax: (+359 2) 980-1320 e-mail: [email protected],