Close ties and excellent cooperation between the responsible business community and the British Embassy set to continue
The Management Board of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum held a working meeting with Dr. Rob Dixon, British Ambassador to Sofia on 3 December. The event, initiated by the BBLF Board discussed topical issues outlined by member companies, and a number of ideas for joint projects in the foreseeable future.
„The efficient partnership between the responsible business community and the British Embassy has a long-term and successful tradition and it is an honour for the current BBLF Board to add to it by continuous open communication and exchanging prospects for further cooperation”, BBLF Chair Levon Hampartzoumain said at the opening of the meeting.
„The Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum was incepted in 1998 as an affiliate of the International Business Leaders Forum set up by the Prince of Wales. Since then, the BBLF has closely followed the concept of promoting business ethics and corporate social responsibility as a key to success of companies”, Maxim Behar, long-term previous Chair and current Board member said.
The British Embassy is keen on maintaining sustainable partnership with responsible businesses as bilateral trade and economic relations and the opportunity for sharing ideas and experience are a key to our countries’ prosperity and the wellbeing of our nations, Ambassador Rob Dixon said.
Major areas of discussion included investment in Bulgaria and the local business environment, climate action and the business case of green economy, post-Covid recovery and the prospects it opens for investment and digitalisation, education and more. Board members and Ambassador Dixon dwelled on joint initiatives regarding the energy transition, Bulgarian students studying in the UK, to name but a few.
The Ambassador also took a number of enquiries of BBLF member companies concerning work visas, COVID-19 vaccines and recovery, COP26and the Glasgow Climate Pact, decarbonisation and renewable sources of energy, „equivalency“ of the financial markets after Brexit.
We would like to thank all our members who sent in their enquiries and comments: we are sending you the Ambassador’s feedback.
The meeting was attended by BBLF Chair Levon Hampartzoumian and Board members Maxim Behar (M3 Communications Group, Inc.), Kamelia Slaveykova (Shell Bulgaria and Greece), Bojidar Neytchev (PwC Bulgaria), Vesela Ilieva (Unique Estates), Petar Velev (Ecopharm), BBLF controller Gilbert McCaul as well as Anelia Todorova, Deputy Country Director, Department for International Trade with the British Embassy in Sofia. The discussion was also joined by George Ruitchev, BBLF executive director and Gabriela Marinova, his deputy.
The event took place at the British Residency, and all epidemic measures were in place.
