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Sat, Feb 11 2012
Business environment in Bulgaria worsening – poll
Close to 70 per cent of Bulgarian and foreign firms polled in a survey at the end of September 2009 believe that the country’s business environment is worsening.
The poll was done from September 28 to October 2 by the National Public Opinion Centre among participants at the annual Plovdiv international fair.
In 2008, an equivalent opinion survey found that 24 per cent of participants believed that the business environment was worsening. A year later, the figure was 68 per cent.
About a third described the condition of their businesses as "grave".
The most serious problems cited by those polled were lack of markets, unfair competition and lack of capital. Eleven per cent said that getting a loan was impossible.
Problems cited in 2008 such as lack of qualified potential employees had diminished in significance, according to the 2009 poll.
The firms who were polled included those working in the fields of trading, machine engineering, light and heavy industry, building, transport, agriculture and finance.
The economic crisis was making itself felt in reduced turnovers and worsening inter-company debt.
More than half of the companies polled complained of arrear debts owed to them, while 16 per cent said that they too had debts that they had not paid.
Most had resorted to freezing salaries and dropping plans for new investments. Other measures included letting employees go, reducing working hours and shutting down parts of company operations.
Businesses wanted to see more active direct intervention by the Government against the economic crisis, according to the poll.
The poll was done from September 28 to October 2 by the National Public Opinion Centre among participants at the annual Plovdiv international fair.
In 2008, an equivalent opinion survey found that 24 per cent of participants believed that the business environment was worsening. A year later, the figure was 68 per cent.
About a third described the condition of their businesses as "grave".
The most serious problems cited by those polled were lack of markets, unfair competition and lack of capital. Eleven per cent said that getting a loan was impossible.
Problems cited in 2008 such as lack of qualified potential employees had diminished in significance, according to the 2009 poll.
The firms who were polled included those working in the fields of trading, machine engineering, light and heavy industry, building, transport, agriculture and finance.
The economic crisis was making itself felt in reduced turnovers and worsening inter-company debt.
More than half of the companies polled complained of arrear debts owed to them, while 16 per cent said that they too had debts that they had not paid.
Most had resorted to freezing salaries and dropping plans for new investments. Other measures included letting employees go, reducing working hours and shutting down parts of company operations.
Businesses wanted to see more active direct intervention by the Government against the economic crisis, according to the poll.
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Appointments
British Council
Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.
CEZ
Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.
BASF Bulgaria
Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.
Rompetrol Bulgaria
Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.
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dear john
well said ! I am business man from CE and had similar experiences.
mainly I realized that BG people what to "catch up" with western europe and still complain that they have not the same wealth and living standard, but what mainly is not realized from BG people is that in western Europe there is hard work combined with success. and I am not talking about bribary. e.g. people just want to earn every year more (salary increase) but are not willing to improve efficiency and productivity and cannot understand [...]
Read the full comment that earning more means also working more...
but I think these times are over and there will be a bitter and long way out of the (very much) home made crises. the main impact will not be the international economic crisis, the main issue will be that the international crisis has uncovered the local ones !
Well written and said i wish you all the luck for your hard honest work Bulgaria will have to learn the hard way thats if they learn at all.
Bulgaria joined the EEC at the same time I started to do business in your country. I was very optimistic about Bulgaria 's future and have been a successful businessman in the Uk for many years, providing employment, building up some quite large enterprises and bring wealth through taxes to many local communities. I hoped to do the same in Bulgaria. However, I have mostly met with many unexpected spurious fees and taxes, never get calls back unless someone wants money, been generally ignored for months.When I complain about business practises I am told I am now a greedy Englishman [...]
Read the full comment although I have done nothing so far but invest hundreds of thousands of euro's.My business associates in England now laugh at my foolishness and naivety for trusting your countrymen. It is fortunately something I can afford to put down to experience. But can Bulgarians ever gat back my trust.None of my business associates will now deal in your country. It is your greed that has ruined a great opportunity and things would be a lot different if foreign investors were treated fairly and honestly. An Englishman does not normaly complain in abad restuarant he just learns never to go there again!