BBLF Awards 2006 - Where Glory and Social Awareness Met

On November 20, at a glorious official ceremony for the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum Annual Responsible Business Awards 2006, the pharmaceutical giant Actavis Bulgaria was recognised with the special award ENGAGE of the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum, handed down to the company by the ceremony's special guest Lord Watson of Richmond.

Among the other official guests of the ceremony were Mr. Ivailo Kalfin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, H.E. Jeremy Hill, Ambassador of the United Kingdom and other representatives from the state authorities, embassies, companies, etc.

BNP Paribas, Hewlett Packard Bulgaria, JobTiger, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and AstraZeneca won the BBLF Annual Responsible Business Awards 2006.

A total of 53 projects were submitted by 45 leading companies under all five categories in the competition. Among the candidates were companies from all over Bulgaria, from diverse business fields.

BNP Paribas received recognition as the winner in the "Investor in community" category, for its project "Social Kitchen" that takes care of everyday meals for elderly people in a disadvantaged position. The second and the third place are held by the Foundation Care and Danone Bulgaria.

Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company emerged this year as the best in the category "Investor in Environment," with the project "Green Danube 2006" that aims to raise the awareness of environmental safety in all countries along the river. This provides the company with an opportunity to participate in the Business Awards for Environment of the European commission. Actavis Bulgaria and Holcim Bulgaria took the awards for second and third place, respectively.

JobTiger became winner in the category "Investor in Human Capital and Work Conditions" - for its initiative to open and develop career centres in Bulgarian universities. Second and third place went to AEC Kozloduy and Ideal Standard Bulgaria together with Ideal Standard - Vidima.

Hewlett Packard won the first prize in the "Investor in Knowledge" category, for its high-end specialised programmes seeking to form qualified IT specialists, while the second and third awards went to Cisco Systems Bulgaria and KCM Plovdiv.

There is a new category in the 2006 edition of the awards - "Cause-related marketing," where the recognition for supporting a social cause was granted to AstraZeneca and its breast cancer awareness campaign. MacCann Ericson Sofia and Avon Cosmetics took the second and third prize.