Europe & CIS

Business incubation and job creation in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, 24 July 2008 – The Business Incubator in Kozloduy – the tenth incubator in the JOBS Project countrywide network – was officially inaugurated on 22 July, . The JOBS project (Job Opportunities through Business Support) promotes development of the private sector in Bulgaria, supporting start-up and establishment of small and medium businesses and helping reduce unemployment – and increasing the services available to the local community.

Taking part in the opening ceremony were Stuart Peters, Second Secretary EU/ Economic at the British Embassy in Sofia; Chris Bailey, Consultant of the UK Programme “Social Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Closure in CEE”; Lene Jespersen, UNDP Bulgaria Deputy Resident Representative; Antoaneta Tsoneva, representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and JOBS Project National Coordinator; Rumen Manoev, Mayor of Kozloduy; representatives of Vratsa District Administration; local entrepreneurs and many citizens.

The Business Incubator (BI) is part of the Business Centre in the town created in 2005 and funded by the UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) with GBP 180,000. An additional contribution of USD 108,940 was made for the establishment of the Business Incubator by the UK donor and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The new investment is made under the UK Programme Addressing the Social and Economic Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Closures. The rent-free premises are provided by Kozloduy Municipality for the purposes of the BI.

The BI has ten premises and has already hosted seven fledging enterprises. Four of the tenants worked in Kozloduy nuclear power plant until recently. A hairdressing studio completely equipped with funds under the BC financial leasing scheme is running its activities in the incubator. A massage studio is the first entrepreneurial endeavor for its owner who was able to put through her long-time business idea. A psychologist from Kozloduy with many years of service in KNPP now has her own counseling office where she will deliver training courses and personnel selection services in addition to psychological counseling and psychotherapeutic aid. “School BG” is an educational enterprise working with 4-12 grade students.The company’s first assignment is preparatory courses for secondary school graduates for their matriculation exams and classes for high school applicants. Leading local teachers are called in to deliver the training courses. “Invest 2008” is helping employers to provide safe working conditions in line with occupational health standards. The construction company “Marijor Stroi” also rents an office in the incubator. The sole trader company “Kaprizz” for party services was registered after its owner attended the BC training course “Start Your Business”.

Tenant companies have access to all the services offered by the consultants of Kozloduy Business Centre and rent the premises at below-market prices.

More about the activities of the BC Kozloduy

Homepage of the JOBS project

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