One of the problems in “Brand Bulgaria” is that we don’t have it and we don’t know what we imagine, said the executive director of BAI Mila Nenova

One of the problems in “Brand Bulgaria” is that we don’t have it and we don’t know what we imagine under “Brand Bulgaria”. We know things about Bulgaria that are not known abroad. And vice versa – there are positive assessments of foreign investors towards the country, whose existence we do not suspect. These are the words of Mila Nenova, executive director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency (BAI), who participated in the 18th Easter Forum “Brand Bulgaria. Protection of Bulgarian Agriculture and Food”, organized by “Standard” media.

Nenova’s second conclusion is based on the conclusions of the forum organized by BAI with the bilateral chambers in Bulgaria at the end of November.

The discussion takes place in the capital’s “Marinella” hotel. Funds for the so-called Ukrainian aid and measures to overcome the consequences for the harvest due to the drought are among the main highlights of the talks.

Mila Nenova is convinced that “Brand Bulgaria” is not only related to the macroeconomic parameters of the country, but is much more comprehensive and as such includes food and tourism.

“I believe that the state should take its responsibility and work more on this topic,” Nenova believes. “Minister Gabriel started working on this topic during her mandate. Six ministries were united to work on Brand Bulgaria, but there was no time to do anything concrete and develop a strategy,” she added.

But the lack of sufficient awareness also affects the activity of the Bulgarian Investment Agency itself.

“I also realize that not everyone knows what the Bulgarian Investment Agency actually does,” Nenova pointed out and briefly outlined the agency’s activities to the audience. “Agricultural producers are not among the sectors that can be certified under our law (Investment Promotion Law – author’s note), but processors of agricultural products can”.

Both Bulgarian and foreign investors in the processing industry can benefit from the incentive measures, she pointed out, adding that there is strong external interest in investments in the sector.

Mila Nenova pointed out some of the incentive measures in support of the expansion of activity in the processing industry, which can be both financial and non-financial – insurance, training, and the already granted grants in line with priority projects.

“The projects we have certified in the field of agriculture and the processing of agricultural products are very few,” said Nenova.