The online meeting was attended by CEOs and senior managers of over 35 BBLF member companies and partners
Economy minister Lachezar Borisov was the speaker of the online discussion we held this morning mottoed Government Supports Businesses. How? The event which was one of a series of meetings focused on the current economic and social challenges, was attended by CEOs and managers of over 35 BBLF member companies and partners. The discussion was held in partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise operated by Selectium, British American Tobacco and Titan Machinery Bulgaria.
BBLF’s business community had the opportunity to confer with Lachezar Borisov, minister of economy, and Iliana Ilieva, director general of the Directorate General for European Competitiveness Funds at the Ministry. The discussion was also attended by BBLF Chair Levon Hampartzoumian, members of the Board of BBLF, and was moderated by Maxim Behar, BBLF Board member and CEO of M3 Communications Group, Inc.
As is usual for BBLF’s business meetings, the main focus of the discussion was up-to-date official data and specific issues and business cases that BBLF members had the opportunity to bring to the attention of the minister and a senior expert from the ministry and get their comprehensive comments.
Minister Lachezar Borisov explained the government's strategy to first support the companies most affected by COVID-19, and then also others that need support, with a little over BGN 1 billion invested so far. In his words, the second goal is to prepare for a complete restructuring of the economy in view of the changes that occurred with the corona crisis.
The Minister reviewed the 10 financial support schemesthat the Ministry of Economy has been working on, including loans from the Bulgarian Development Bank, non-recourse support for businesses that were closed due to COVID-19, as well as for micro, small and medium enterprises, procedures for the so-called "big small" companies, voucher schemes for ICT services, etc. Lachezar Borisov also pointed out the steps taken to improve the business environment and attract strategic investors.
