The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Mr. Bojidar Bojinov, who is going to chair the ABC in 2004, presented the main priorities in the activity of ABC on the 17^th General Assembly of the Association, held in Podgorica on 30 - 31 October, 2003. An Address to the Governments of all Balkan countries-members of ABC was signed. The Address contains specific suggestions for improvement of the business environment in the region.

BCCI is a co-founder and represents Bulgaria in ABC. BCCI is going to force the activity of the working group, responsible for trade facilitation and solving of problems, connected with tariff and non-tariff barriers, visas, transport and border crossing points. During its period of presidency BCCI plans the establishment of a Balkan Business Academy. This Academy will provide distance learning of entrepreneurs from the ABC countries, in order to assist the professional training of the business representatives from the region. BCCI will contribute the cooperation between branch organizations from the region by pointing specific priority branches for the Balkans.

Among the priorities during the chairmanship of BCCI are the institutional stabilization and further development of the ABC activity, support and facilitation of business relations between the company-members of the Chambers and cooperation in preparation of the companies from ABC countries for accession to the European Union and penetration to the European market.

A Balkan Partenariat together with a conference on hot economic topics for the region is going to be organized in 2004 too.