Sofia Municipal Privatization & Investment Agency and the Ministry of Education and Science signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which aims to link academics and students with the business. A free to use and unlimited in access web platform will be developed where companies will be able to announce available internships and trainings as well as vacancies. The future “Digital map of the educational system for staff training in Sofia” will provide latest data on the number of students currently studying in the professional schools and universities, as well as on their majors.

On the occasion of the signing of the Memorandum, Vladimir Danailov, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency said: The mission of the Agency is to support the development of a healthy and stable economic, business and social environment in Sofia and for this reason the Agency is committed to strengthening the relationship between business and education by partnering with the Ministry of Education and Science in our efforts. Our daily communication and meetings with partners, and discussions with representatives of educational and business organizations, made it clear that both sides need access to up-to-date information on the number of specialists in professional schools and universities as well as on the vacant positions on the labor market. This brought to life the idea of ​​creating a single digital map / platform providing useful information to both communities: business and education. We would like to thank the Ministry of Education and Science and especially Minister Krassimir Valchev and Deputy Minister Tanya Mihailova for supporting us in this idea and I am sure that this partnership will bring positive results for the business and the education.

It is expected the web-based platform to start in March 2018, initially in Sofia Municipality, but later on to be developed as a national project.

Foreign investments in Bulgaria increased by 38.8% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2017

They totaled EUR 293.3 million for the period July -September, according to BNB data. Together with the previous two quarters, the total amount of foreign investments in Bulgaria reached EUR 744.2 million.

Most investments in the country came from the Netherlands and the sector with the largest share of foreign investments was the manufacturing industry, with just over EUR 330 million for the period January – September 2017. This was three times more for this sector, compared to the corresponding nine-month period in 2016. The trade sector also recorded an increase in terms of foreign investment (EUR 251.3 million, compared to EUR 236.4 million). In addition, real estate operations also reported growth. A drop was registered in the Hotels and Restaurants and Mining sectors.

Debt instruments again contributed the most to the amount of investments. Reinvested earnings and equity had low but positive values.

Sofia Municipal Privatization & Investment Agency opened its new office on 12 Gurko Str. We hope that this will improve our cooperation with our colleges from Sofia municipality and prosperous business partners doing business in our city. 

For 2017, 5 reports were prepared upon request of Sofia Investment Agency, presenting current data on the environment in Sofia – an economic profile of the city, its labor force, the outsourcing industry, the IT sector and the development of tourism, Vladimir Danailov, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, announced at the opening. He added that Sofia continues to be the largest regional economy in the country, providing the highest standard of living. It is characterized by good absorption of European funds, which is a major source of public investment. A total of BGN 3.5 billion was absorbed by the end of September this year and the IT sector’s share rose from 3.8% to 5.7% of the total output and to almost 50% of the wider branch of information technology.

The agency was established in the summer of 1992 and for its 25-year history it has the highest number of deals concluded by a privatization body in the country – nearly 2900, Dr. Verginia Stoyanova, Executive Director of Sofia Municipal Privatization & Investment Agency said. As a result, the cash receipts total some BGN 500 million. The funds from privatization enabled Sofia Municipality to implement its own investment program. A number of projects have been implemented in the last few years, including the construction of new schools and kindergartens, reconstruction and renovation of healthcare facilities, construction of new playgrounds and sports facilities. At the same time, the concluded deals, controlled directly by the Agency and accounting for only 9% of all sales, brought additional investment in the amount of BGN 160 million and created more than 18 000 jobs. Nikolay Stoynev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sofia Municipal Privatization & Investment Agency and Deputy Chairman of Sofia Municipal Council, thanked the Agency’s team for their efforts. Sofia enables more and more successful business partnerships that bring even more added value to the economy of the city, he said.

London will offer temporary free offices for Sofia entrepreneurs willing to work in the British capital. This was agreed by Vladimir Danailov, Executive Director of Sofia Investment Agency, and his colleague Tony Margiotta from British agency “London and partners”. They held a meeting within the program of the delegation, led by Mayor Yordanka Fandakova in London. Following the meeting, a draft agreement for collaboration was drawn up which is to be discussed at an expert level and executed.

The document will engage London to provide full support for Sofia business by offering support for setting up a company, finding staff, contacting and introducing to local businesses.

In turn, Sofia Investment Agency will offer the same specific support to London entrepreneurs willing to invest in Sofia, Danailov said.

He, together with Nikolay Stoynev, deputy chairman of Sofia Municipal Council and chairman of the Supervisory Board of Sofia Investment Agency, introduced the opportunities for business development in the capital to their colleagues from “London and partners”. London has similar agreements with cities like Lisbon, Paris, Tel Aviv and Los Angeles.

The London agency is 50% funded by the British capital’s municipality, and 50% by the business. It employs about 150 people who develop projects in the field of promoting and attracting foreign entrepreneurs, education and tourism.

Business delegates from Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria, explored investment opportunities in the metallurgical, financial, movie and construction industries in Sofia. Vladimir Danailov, CEO of Sofia Investment Agency (SIA), met the Austrian executives led by Martin Weber, representative of the city council.

How to establish companies and joint projects with Bulgarian partners were the main topics during the meeting between the business delegates from Wiener Neustadt and SIA representatives. Vladimir Danailov presented the priority industries in Sofia Municipality, the development of the city, as well as the opportunities of the capital as a historical, social and cultural city.

The business representatives from Austria showed greatest interest in the municipality’s policies focused on R&D and innovation development, high-tech industries and high-tech manufacturing, Danailov said. The Austrian delegates announced their intention to return to Sofia for scheduled face-to-face meetings with local business partners.

On September 20, 2017, at 10.00 am in Sofia Tech Park’s John Atanasov building, Bulgarian companies interested in business contacts with Polish companies can take part in a Bulgarian-Polish Business Forum organized by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA). The bilateral meetings within the forum have a free access and are funded under Action 3 of project BG16RFOP002-2.003-0002 “Organization of trade missions and forums for Bulgarian producers and foreign buyers”, where the BSMEPA is an institutional beneficiary under Operational Program “Innovation and competitiveness” 2014-2020. The Polish delegation includes a group of 17 Polish businessmen who are interested in establishing business relationships with Bulgarian companies. The following activities of the companies and organizations will be present from Poland:

The forum is part of the program of an official Polish delegation, led by Polish Prime Minister Ms. Beata Shidlo, who will visit Bulgaria at the invitation of Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. The business forum aims to promote bilateral trade and economic relations between Poland and Bulgaria, as well

Sofia Investment Agency received a Certificate of appreciation from Business Club Magazine. The media company is the organizer of “Strong Regions for a Strong Economy” – a series of events dedicated to regional development policies.

Supporting the business on the territory of Sofia Municipality is a top priority for the Agency, CEO Vladimir Danailov said. He presented major entrepreneurial and business development opportunities: manufacturing facilities terrains, Certificate Class C plots, as well as SIA’s facilitating and support services for expanding into foreign markets.

Sofia won the Best IT Partner Award in the second edition of Innovations, Technology & Sourcing Awards organized by the Bulgarian Outsourcing Association (BOА) and Bulgarian association of software companies (BASSCOM) on June 16. The award is given for providing favorable conditions for the development of the IT sector. Mr. Vladimir Danailov, CEO of Sofia Privatization and Investment Agency received the award at the official ceremony in Grand Hotel Primoretz, Burgas. Innovation, Technology & Sourcing Awards 2017 marked the achievements of Bulgarian outsourcing and software companies, as well as start-ups, investors and local authorities in 10 categories, four of which in the technology sector and two recognizing the efforts of affiliated businesses, local authorities and universities.

“Bringing BOA and BASSCOM together to the awards is a positive precedent which proves that when you work in synergy you achieve sustainable results. Our joint efforts have contributed and will continue to contribute for building Bulgaria as a leading outsourcing and technology destination. This year’s awards in Burgas are a bright example of a good partnership between the BOA and the municipality for the development of the outsourcing sector in Bulgaria”, said Stanimir Nikolov, chairman of BOA.

The International jury of Innovation, Technology & Sourcing Awards has awarded Bulpros with Outsourcing Service Provider of the Year. Second place in the prestigious category grabbed Sutherland, and the third – Telus International.

The award Software Company of the Year was given to Programista. Second place was conquered by SoftServe. After a contested race, third place is for EPAM and Accedia.

An interesting fact is that a number of outsourcing companies have submitted applications at prima facie in IT categories such as IT Project of the Year and IT Product of the Year. The winners in the respective categories are Lirex and coBuilder. Second place for an IT project was given to Bulpros, a third to Upnetix and Code Runners. The second prize in the IT product of the year was awarded to Experian, and Code Runners stands behind it.

Technology Employer of the Year is Scale Focus, second and third respectively are Programista and Experian.

The most innovative technology company for 2016 is Bulpros. Sutherland was awarded second and SoftServe third.

Sirma Medical Systems was named Startup Company of the Year. The second

Stable growth in the number of employed in outsourcing and ICT – part of the wider sectors “Information and communication” and “Professional, scientific and technical activities” with a number exceeding 200,000

Representatives of the business, Sofia Municipality and academic structures discussed the development of Sofia as a digital and green capital. The meeting was part of the project Road Show 2017 “Competitive economy through stimulating partnership between local government and business”, organized by the Bulgarian Outsourcing Association (BAO), Association of the Commercial Buildings Owners in Bulgaria (ACBO) and ICT Media, and participants united around the conclusion that Sofia should be positioned as a good place for investment and high tech development, offering education tailored to business needs, high class business properties and attractive living conditions.

“I see the development of the city as a digital capital, partnering with business and academic circles. The rapid expansion of the whole city, coupled with the digital transformation of the world and the growing global competition, poses challenges that we need to tackle together,” said Ms Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia Municipality.

One of the most important steps in this direction is the creation of a Cooperation Forum of BAO and ACBO with Sofia Municipality through the Sofia Investment Agency (SIA). By the end of June, the Forum will have a working plan prepared on the basis of the long-term vision for turning Sofia into a digital and green capital. The plan is to hold Forum meetings at least twice a year, and partnerships with both associations will provide professional consultations with specialists on important topics and projects for the development of a smart city.

“IT and outsourcing companies have experience in areas like smart cities and other technologies; they have faced these problems and can share their experience. Direct communication with the municipality will contribute to a faster and more creative solution of current problems with less financial resources,” commented Stanimir Nikolov, Chairman of the Board of BAO.

“Those who invest in both ICT and outsourcing services, and in business buildings also work and live in Sofia. Creating the Forum will help us to work more actively with the municipality and the state to make it a better place to live. The two sectors are drivers of job creation,” added Tanya Kosseva-Boshova, Chairman of the Board of ACBO.

During the lunch, Ms. Fandakova added that Sofia occupies the top

Sofia Investment Agency (SIA) presented its work, team and activities, as well as the priority industries for the development of Sofia аt a working information meeting with members of the Bulgarian Association of Information Technologies (BAIT). We are happy with the effective discussion on Smart city solutions and the development of the city in this direction. We also discussed the challenges that companies face with and how our team could help.

The shared expertise, information and suggestions have been extremely useful to our team and will help to plan effectively future activities related to the business environment support in the capital and the overall development of the city.

The specific topics that we discussed and set as potential joint projects also included the organization and conducting of a second “Business and Education” forum, for which the BAIT organizations will prepare suggestions and discussion topics on improving the quality of labor force in the capital.

Another opportunity we discussed was the launch of a project for Sofia’s image building as a regional development center. The project will be aimed at providing infrastructure for testing of Smart City solutions in a real environment. In order to do this, a working group has to be formed, which will involve experts from the ICT sector, as well as representatives of Sofia municipality.

We hope that the held meeting is the first step towards the development of a more favorable business environment in Sofia, as well as to shaping the city’s vision as a hub for highly qualified young talents that attracts sustainable investments by local and international entrepreneurs.