BCCI took part in an economic discussion

The Secretary General of BCCI Vasil Todorov took part in a discussion organized by “Bulgaria for Citizens” Association together with representatives of other employers’ organizations and many economists. 

“We cannot but have an opinion on what the crisis in Greece means for Bulgaria, what the report of the European Commission about the economic situation in Bulgaria implies”, said the leader of the Association Meglena Kuneva in her welcoming address. “Let’s see what unites us, because for me this means placing the voice of the people before your personal interest for political survival. The tasks before Bulgaria at the moment are firstly to stop denying what’s obvious, especially regarding the economy, to see the truth, to hear the people and to give them an opportunity to freely state their opinion, including through the media.”

During the discussion Biser Manolov, Financial Consultant cited data and results from the surveys of BCCI’s Analytical Department. This allowed the Secretary General of BCCI Vasil Todorov to point out that the Chamber recently raised the question of youth unemployment, regarded a global problem, at the 101st International Labour Conference in Geneva. The most important measures proposed to solve the problem included promoting youth entrepreneurship and creating balanced macroeconomic policies that encourage employers to create new jobs.

Mr. Todorov reminded that an end must be put to the wrongful policy of establishing administrative bodies funded by the state to provide services to businesses which are already provided by business organizations. This practice is an example of disloyal competition by the state, as well as for inefficient utilization of the limited public resources. The solution to this problem is outsourcing public activities. Mr. Todorov mentioned arbitration proceedings as a positive example of outsourcing, which allows an award for commercial disputes to be announced within 6 months (if the case is not very complicated), while for the same period the public courts manage only to rule on the legitimacy of the claim. 

BCCI’s position emphasized the need of a special policy for scientific research, because innovation is one of the main instruments for overcoming the crisis. Incentives in this direction would cause the more efficient absorption of EU funds granted by Operational Programme Competitiveness, half of which (over EUR 500 million) is intended to fund innovative projects. 

In the course of discussion, the proposals made following BCCI’s survey in the beginning of 2012 were discussed. Among them are preserving the 10% corporate and income tax rates and not allowing their increase under external influence; accelerating VAT refund; reducing the number of regulatory regimes; shortening the terms in which the state must pay its debts to companies for provided services in accordance with signed contracts; reducing administrative fees and providing arguments when determining their size while applying the “expense-covering” approach; effectively battling corruption; simplifying application procedures for EU Operational Programmes; accelerating the payment of the sums due under Operational Programmes to beneficiaries; promoting the active and starting new schemes; allowing for personal liability of public officials who fail to reply within the specified deadline to claims, signals and enquiries made; removing the administrative increase of the minimum insurance thresholds for sectors of industry in which no agreement has been reached.

20.06.2012