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Factsheet for measure BG-2019-49/2988 – measures in Bulgaria

Export Hub Bulgaria

Експортен хъб България

Country Bulgaria , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 02 December 2019
Context Green Transition, Digital Transformation, Restructuring Support Instruments
Type Other initiatives or policies
Category Reorientation of business activities
– Matching/networking
Author Ekaterina Markova (IPS-Bas) and Eurofound
Measure added 09 November 2022 (updated 06 December 2022)

Background information

Export Hub Bulgaria was established on December 2, 2019 and is a public-private initiative that works to increase the export potential of Bulgarian business.

The main aim of the Export Hub Bulgaria is to support the Bulgarian enterprises in entering foreign markets through various export promotion activities. The founding members of this initiative are: the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Sofia Tech Park, Bulgarian Export Insurance Agency, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA), Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Confederation of Employers and Industrialists of Bulgaria (CEIB), University of Finance, Insurance, Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (VUZF), Economic Policy Institute, M3 Communication Group, Bulgarian Startup Association (BESCO), Bulgarian Consultancy Organisation, Professional Association of Robotics and Automation (PARA), Cleantech Bulgaria, SoftUni and Bulgarian Employers Association for Innovative Technologies (BRAIT).

Content of measure

The Export Hub Bulgaria supports the Bulgarian enterprises in entering foreign markets through organising events and activities, increasing the knowledge of Bulgarian exporters by providing market information, and providing access to export potential development programme.

The export program within the Export Hub Bulgaria aims to support development of the export potential of Bulgarian enterprises that have the necessary capacity to enter international markets.

Each of the partners of Export Hub Bulgaria (EXB) provides the necessary resources and experts to present the models for building a proper strategy to each of the company representatives when marketing their product outside Bulgaria.

Within the Export Hub Bulgaria, monthly events are held - seminars, trainings, forums, etc., in which all interested business representatives and stakeholders can participate online and offline. Speakers at the events are experienced experts and presenters from various fields of the economy, and the topics of each seminar are tailored to the current issues for businesses around the world and in the country.

The Export Hub Bulgaria website publish analyses about the SMEs, innovation an export potential and also provides opportunity for free consultation.

Use of measure

Export Hub Bulgaria has qualified in 2022 for round 2 of the awards of the World Trade Organization, which distinguish the best practices in the field of trade and export promotion. Export Hub Bulgaria, presented by the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, won an award in the "Support for the Internationalization of Business" category at the Europe Enterprise Promotion Awards 2021.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Applies to all businesses Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Employers' organisations
Company / Companies
Companies
Employers organisation
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative
Form Not applicable Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Only employers' organisations
  • Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Four of the main representative employer organisations in Bulgaria are among the founding members of Export Hub Bulgaria: Bulgarian Industrial Association, Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria.

Views and reactions

Representatives of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, as well as the Institute for Economic Policy and the Professional Association for Robotics and Automation signed annexes to the Agreement on the establishment of the Export Hub Bulgaria in September 2022.

The main message that Export Hub Bulgaria sends is that the success of Bulgarian business abroad is possible with joint efforts between the government and the private sector of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The founders of the initiative are convinced that the country can be a leader in a number of trade sectors by encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit and the desire for innovative development among business representatives.

Sources

  • 02 December 2019: 12 PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS LAID THE FOUNDATIONS OF EXPORT HUB BULGARIA, WHICH WILL HELP BULGARIAN BUSINESSES TO ENTER FOREIGN MARKETS (www.exporthub.bg)
  • 20 September 2021: Export Hub Bulgaria awarded IANMSP as the national winner for the best project in the field of business internationalization (www.exporthub.bg)
  • 18 January 2022: Export Hub Bulgaria qualified for the second round of the World Trade Organization awards (www.exporthub.bg)
  • 14 February 2022: 15 companies are included in the second class of the training program of Export Hub Bulgaria EXPO2 (www.exporthub.bg)
  • 11 September 2022: EXPORT HUB BULGARIA WITH NEW MEMBERS (sofiatech.bg)

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Export Hub Bulgaria, measure BG-2019-49/2988 (measures in Bulgaria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/BG-2019-49_2988.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.