A memorandum of co-operation was signed on October 1 between major banks, branch organisations and State Administration Ministry under the European Union Grant Advisor (EUGA) programme.

EUGA is an initiative from Microsoft.
The program helps medium and small enterprises in Bulgaria by providing more information about access to European funds and with technical as well as other forms of support in applying for funding, investor.bg reported.

The memorandum was signed by State Administration Ministry, BTC, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), State Agency for Information Technology and Communication, Confederation of Employers and Industrialists, Raifaizenbank, DSK Bank, Unioncredit Bulbank, Foundation for Reform of Local Self-governance and a representative of Microsoft Bulgaria.

The programme started in 2003 and includes 17 countries. BCCI representative Bozhidar Bozhinov said that between 2007 and 2013, European Union funds would distribute 200 billion euro for funding of innovation and IT technology projects, for education and for new businesses.

State Administration Minister Nikoloi Vasilev said Bulgaria had been slow in introducing electronic government, but was quickly catching up. According to him, Bulgaria made great advancement in the introduction of computers in education, the introduction of broadband internet and the use of mobile communication.