The key challenges and achievements in the implementation of the National Development Programme “Bulgaria 2030” and the global Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) were discussed at a round table today by representatives of the public administration, business and the non-governmental sector.
The Forum was opened by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, Dr. David Sukalinski, who presented the progress of the Ministry of Economy and Industry in fulfilling its commitments under the sub-objectives “Promoting policies for the development and promotion of the creation and growth of micro, small and medium enterprises,” “Industry, innovation and infrastructure,” and “Increasing access to financial services for small industrial and other enterprises.”
Our aim is to hear your vision of the impact of the policies implemented so far on achieving each of the three objectives, the good practices you are implementing, and the alternatives you would propose to achieve each of them. With these words, Deputy Minister Sukalinski addressed the representatives of the business and non-governmental organizations, participants in the round table. He expressed his hope for a meaningful discussion on the challenges and possible solutions to the problems facing industry, consumption and economic growth in general.
Deputy Minister Sukalinski emphasized on the implementation of the “National Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises” 2021-2027, adopted in 2021, which defines the policy framework in this area and covers all stakeholders in the public administration responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies aimed at the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in Bulgaria. In his words, this strategy and the Law on Small and Medium Enterprises regulate the currently implemented Mechanism for Coordination and Partnership between State Institutions.
“The established Advisory Council for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises, which meets annually, contributes to improving interaction with NGOs, universities and science and research centres,” said Dr Sukalinski.
The Forum is part of the Second Voluntary National Review of the Goals and was organized by the Ministries of Economy and Industry and Innovation and Growth, which are the lead organizations for three of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It was attended by Deputy Ministers of Innovation and Growth Veselina Mincheva and of Finance Metodi Metodiev, representatives of the Council of Ministers, the Ministries of Labour and Social Policy, Agriculture and Food, Tourism, the Bulgarian Development Bank, the National Statistical Institute, representatives of business associations such as KRIB, AIC, the Bulgarian Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (BFIEC), the Bulgarian Recycling Association, etc.