Regional Meetings with BIA Members to Highlight BDB Financing Opportunities
The Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) and the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) are strengthening their cooperation to better support local businesses. As part of the initiative, BDB representatives will take part in a series of regional meetings across the country with sectoral organizations that are members of the Association. The two institutions also agreed to sign a memorandum of cooperation that will set out additional joint initiatives.
The initiative was discussed during a working meeting between Delyana Ivanova, Chair of BDB’s Supervisory Board, and Dobri Mitrev, President of the BIA. Violina Nakova, Member of the BIA Management Board, also took part in the discussion.
The goal is to ensure that information about BDB’s products and programs reaches sectoral organizations and companies more effectively, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By joining the regional meetings, BDB will provide businesses with up-to-date information on lending conditions, guarantee instruments, and other forms of financial support available through the Bank.
The BIA brings together more than 140 industry organizations, offering an effective platform for sharing information with businesses from different sectors of the economy.
During the talks, specific BDB programs were highlighted, including support for the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Priority areas include renewable energy and energy independence projects. With resources from the Council of Europe Development Bank and the European Investment Bank, BDB offers long-term investment and working capital loans for “green” enterprises and projects in renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling, and sustainable agriculture. The financing is available under favorable conditions – with maturities of up to 15 years and the option of reduced interest rates.
The Bulgarian Industrial Association is a nationally representative employers’ organization, established in 1980, actively engaged in the national social dialogue and defending the interests of Bulgarian companies. BIA is the only Bulgarian business organization that is a member of BUSINESSEUROPE, providing its members with access and representation at the European level.