The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) presented the twelfth annual “Business to the Rules” awards. Among the guests of the event were the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov, the Minister of Economy and Industry Petar Dilov, the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov, the Mayor of Sofia Vasil Terziev, representatives of the executive and legislative branches, diplomatic missions in Bulgaria, business, non-governmental organizations, social partners, and the media.
"The shadow economy is undoubtedly a scourge that damages the fiscal budget, harms business, leads to unfair competition and worse working conditions. 15 years ago, when the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) began calculating the composite index "Business to the Rules", the shadow economy was over 33%, and since 2019 it has been below 22%. Unfortunately, in the last few years and as a result of the political instability in our country, the lightening has stalled. The better the business climate, the fewer administrative burdens, the more efficiently and effectively we spend public resources, the fewer excuses for shadow practices and the greater willingness to pay taxes there will be," said Vasil Velev during the official opening of the ceremony. He symbolically "passed the baton" to the newly elected Chairman of the Board of the association, Rumen Radev, and presented him with a compass that will always show him the right direction - that of the common, coincident interest of the members of the BICA.
Rumen Radev added that the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) is an organization that has a systematic approach to combating the shadow economy. "The event for which we have gathered today is part of a very important task for us, namely a better business environment. The point of developing as a society is not simply to support business for its own sake, but to work for a better business environment and thus - a more competitive, successful and sustainable business, which naturally leads to our community prosperity," added the Chairman of the Board of the Association.
The Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov presented the award in the category "For a normative act or administrative practice that leads to limiting the shadow economy and improving the business environment." The awardees are Delyan Dobrev and a group of MPs who initiated the decision of the National Assembly to assign the preparation of a government program to compensate for the costs of non-household end customers for electricity for the second half of 2024. This active policy of support for the Bulgarian economy has managed to keep the business environment in our country stable, sustainable and encouraging competitiveness, to preserve thousands of jobs and to limit inflation.
The Mayor of Sofia Municipality Vasil Terziev announced the winner in the category "For a journalist or media outlet that has contributed to changing public attitudes towards the informal economy". The prize went to reporter and presenter Maria Vankova and bTV for the film "Medicine at Any Price - 4 Years Later", investigating whether the NHIF could pay 100 million leva less for oncology drugs per year. It deepens and further develops her work on the investigation of drug prices in Bulgaria and the abuse of public funds and unjustified payments that the NHIF should make.
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Petar Dilov, presented the award in the category “For a person or organization that has contributed to limiting and preventing the informal economy through an active position” to the “Bulgarian Collective Action Platform”, “ Blue Dot Network (BDN)” and “High-Level Disclosure Mechanism”. The Bulgarian Collective Action Platform (BCAP) is an initiative of the Basel Institute for Good Governance, supported by the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, the American Chamber of Commerce and the Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of the entire team, the award was received by the Basel Institute for Good Governance, one of the partners that implemented this project to increase transparency and fight corruption – with an important role in limiting the shadow economy and promoting legal employment.
This year, a Special Award was also presented. It was presented by the President of the Confederation of Bulgarian Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (CITUB), Plamen Dimitrov, to the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA), Vasil Velev. He was honored for his overall contribution and consistent efforts to shed light on the Bulgarian economy, promote the principles of transparency and good corporate governance, and improve the business environment in Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) presents the "Business to the Rules" awards for the twelfth time. The aim of the annual competition is to highlight stimulating examples of success in the fight against the informal economy and to honor leading institutions and individuals with an active position and contribution to limiting the shadow economy.
The General sponsor of the ceremony is Assarel Medet AD. We would also like to thank the Association of Bulgarian Airlines, Augusta Spa Hotel, Geotechmin OOD, Cosmos Shipping AD, Industrial Capital - Holding AD, Industrial Holding Bulgaria AD, Park Hotel Moscow and Hisarya Natural Mineral Water for their sponsorship.
The event is held with the media partnership of "Business News" - bTV, Bloomberg TV Bulgaria, Bulgarian National Radio, Global Media Group, Epicenter, Economic Life, Investor.bg , Manager, Nova TV, Bulgaria on Air Television .
