The National Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 2021–2027 was adopted by Council of Ministers Decision No. 281 of April 1, 2021.
The National Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 2021–2027 (SME Strategy) is a key strategic document for the current programming period. It defines the vision for government policy in support of SMEs and aligns with the European Union’s policies on small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Strategy was developed under a project funded by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support. In preparation for the Strategy, the project contractor – PricewaterhouseCoopers Bulgaria, conducted an analysis of the state of SMEs in Bulgaria.
The technical report, which includes an in-depth analysis of SMEs in Bulgaria and preliminary recommendations for action, can be found here.
Interim Evaluation and Analysis of the State of SMEs
In recent years, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have faced a series of challenges, including economic and energy crises, rising inflation, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Currently, further changes in the business environment are expected due to Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen Area and its upcoming entry into the Eurozone and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Considering this complex and evolving landscape, the Ministry of Economy and Industry commissioned an Analysis of the State of SMEs to assess their competitiveness, resilience, level of digitalization, and availability of skilled workforce.
To support the implementation of the national policy for SMEs and in line with the adopted mechanism for executing the National Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 2021–2027, the Ministry of Economy and Industry also commissioned an Interim Evaluation of the Strategy’s implementation, conducted by an independent contractor.
The Interim Evaluation and Analysis of the State of SMEs were carried out by the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The Institute’s mission is to support Bulgaria’s economic development and successful integration into the EU through research, evaluations, and policy recommendations for the government and businesses, as well as through training scientists and specialists.
The findings of the Interim Evaluation and Analysis of the State of SMEs will serve as a basis for updating policies and measures in support of SMEs.