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Business support - Bulgaria

Updated 09/2011

The key laws, covering assistance to business are:

  • Investment Promotion Act (ZNI) български
  • SMEs Act (ZMSP) български
  • Bulgarian Trades Act (ZZ) български
  • Promotion of Employment Act (ZNZ) български

Help for businesses

Private organisations

There is a range of non-governmental organisations able to provide specialists in various sectors who are able to advise local and international businesses. They have experts who can help companies abroad deal with institutions whenever there are language problems, and with drafting documents in Bulgarian in Cyrillic.

Non-governmental organisations in Bulgaria have been set up to help enterprises to offer a range of services. Some (e.g. advice) is free, others are not.

Public-private partnersnip

The government-founded Bulgarian Development Bank offers consultations and advice to businesses, as well as access to programmes for obtaining various types of credit in cooperation with their international partners.

Public organisations

The Ministry of Employment and Social Policy issues figures on employment levels in Bulgaria, releases information on the legal requirements for contracts of employment, and provides information about the labour market and financing programmes.

There are also government mechanisms set up to provide assistance to SMEs, which constitute the majority of businesses operating in Bulgaria. The authority for supporting business by giving advice and providing access to information on obtaining credit and other services is the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Promotion Agency.        

It gives financial assistance to small enterprises wishing to take part in international fairs. The Agency's website has a complete list of forthcoming trade exhibitions. In addition, it organises regular training programmes in business skills, business management and others. It also organises business forums and provides information on how to get in touch with trade missions and other business undertakings.

  • Training programmes български
  • Business forums български

The Bulgarian Investment Agency provides information on all legal issues relating to investments in Bulgaria, including tax and administrative procedures. It also gives access to a complete list of industrial zones in Bulgaria where companies may, under particular circumstances, make use of administrative support and tax concessions.

Access to finance is crucial for setting up and running a business.

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

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Further help

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