For the tenth time in a row, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) presented its annual Economy of Light awards at a ceremony in Sofia Hotel Balkan. At the invitation of the organizers, the CEO of Invest Sofia, Ph.D. Maria Hristova attended the event. Prime Minister Galab Donev and the Mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova were part of the award ceremony together with representatives of regulatory authorities, companies, NGOs, BICA partners, and the media.
The annual competition recognizes achievements in the fight against the informal economy and rewards leading institutions and individuals with an active position and contribution in limiting the grey sector. The awards are part of BICA’s initiatives that aim to increase intolerance towards the informal economy, encourage active actions and encourage the positive impact of the business in the socio-economic environment. According to data from BICA’s latest research, almost 80% of the Bulgarian economy has left the gray sector.
Awards were presented in three categories: to state or municipal administrations, individuals or organizations, and journalists or media. The winners are as follows:
- Delyan Dobrev and members of the Parliament for the compensatory mechanism proposed to help enterprises against the electricity price increase for non-household consumers;
- Mihail Krastev, economic and political researcher and analyst at the Council for Economic and Public Policies for his research and analysis of the economic situation in Bulgaria and the world;
- Bloomberg TV Bulgaria and the “Business Start” electricity for the expert view on topics related to dealing with informal practices in the economy and the labor market in the country.
BICA members, social partners, members of the Public Council for Limitation and Prevention of the Informal Economy, state institutions, and media nominate the organizations and individuals. The winners were announced after a secret ballot by an expert jury of over 100 economists, public figures, media representatives, economists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and financial experts.
