BCCI and UNIMPRESA – Italy discuss specific areas for cooperation

At BCCI, a meeting was held between the Chamber’s Vice-President Georgi Stoev and Paolo Longobardi, Honorary President of the Association of Italian Employers (UNIMPRESA), and Giuseppe Spadafora, Vice-President of the Association. The main objective of the meeting was to get acquainted with the work of the two institutions and to establish points of common interest on the basis of which to start the active cooperation for the benefit of Bulgarian and Italian SMEs. The Italian Association is a national organization with 68 territorial offices, representing 20 sectors of industry.

Georgi Stoev gave an overview of the history and activities of BCCI and outlined a number of common characteristics of the Chamber and UNIMPRESA. The possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding was also discussed, outlining specific steps for future cooperation. The management of UNIMPRESA is also considering the possibility of opening a representative office in Bulgaria in view of the country’s strategic location and the unique business opportunities provided by the economic and investment environment, the simplified tax system and the entrepreneurial spirit of the local business.

The Vice-President of BCCI pointed out that the traditions in the trade-economic and investment relations between Bulgaria and Italy are prerequisites for the success of the planned initiatives. In addition to this, a significant number of Italian companies (both with mixed and with 100% Italian capital) – a total of 235, as well as 70 commercial representative offices of Italian companies, are registered at BCCI.

The organizations agreed to continue the bilateral exchange of useful information and to plan future joint initiatives, about which BCCI will inform its members additionally.