Business, local government and the state gather at a forum in Montana: Konkurent.bg

25/04/2024 10:06

“Business and the regions: Northwestern Bulgaria – The perspective” is the topic of a forum, which on Monday – April 29, brings together business, local government and the state in Montana.

What is the vision for the development of the North-West region; how do national and European measures and funds reach businesses and people in the regions of Montana, Vidin and Vratsa? What is their effect and how do local businesses and local authorities see the development of municipalities in the region? These are the questions to which answers are sought.

The forum is organized by BGLOBAL magazine and is part of the national publication “Business and the Regions”, which BGLOBAL has been conducting for four years in partnership with the National Association of Municipalities, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and the Institute for Market Economy. The discussion will be opened by Petar Tornev, managing director of “Accenture Bulgaria” and chairman of the national initiative of BGLOBAL Society of the Future, Vanina Vecina member of the Society of the Future and the mayor of Montana Zlatko Zhivkov. In the first part of the discussion, the executive director of the Fund of Funds, Victoria Hristova, will present the financial instruments under the “Regional Development” Program 2021-2027, to support 50 city municipalities, among which are Montana, Vidin and Lom. The executive director of the Institute for Market Economy, Svetla Kostadinova, will outline the economic profile and potential niches for accelerated growth of the Northwest region. The conversation in the second panel will be given by Associate Professor Haralan Alexandrov, social anthropologist and community development consultant, with the topic “The role of social capital in the process of regional development”.

Participants are managers of leading companies from the region – Kozloduy NPP, Emko, Monbat Group, Compass, the mayors of Montana Zlatko Zhivkov, Mezdra Ivan Asparuhov and Belogradchik Boyan Minkov, as well as representatives of the executive power.

The purpose of the forum is to show how the companies that have already invested in the region see the development of Northwest Bulgaria, based on their own experience. What are the four-year prospects for improving the quality of life for people in the regions of Vratsa, Montana and Vidin and for attracting new investors, which the mayors of municipalities in the region have planned and are implementing.

The discussion is in two main panels – “Directions of development” – how to develop the North West faster and more successfully. National and local policies. Opportunities to improve the business environment, attract investors, successful practices and options for their multiplication. – “Investments in people” – opportunities for education and qualification of young people to stay in the region. Local policies for attracting and retaining investors and personnel. Education policies at local and national level.

The regional conference “Business and the Regions: Northwestern Bulgaria – The Perspective” begins on April 29, Monday, at 1:30 p.m. in the Zhitomir Hotel, Montana.