Credit lending in Bulgaria has practically stopped
The Council of Sectorial Organizations with the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry alarmed that for the previous nine months of this year only BGN 20 million investment credits were granted, which means that credit lending in Bulgaria has practically stopped. Bulgarian investors need to pay higher prices for their loans, which impedes the development of economy and makes the communication between banks and business impossible. When there is no partnership between them, there can’t be any progress.
The topic was discussed at BCCI, with the participation of Mr. Stefan Tsalov and Mr. Hristo Stoyanov, representatives of the European Investment Fund in Sofia, together with issues related to financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the JEREMIE instrument. Sectorial representatives requested information about opportunities to use the funding. The question of banks’ position as a link between business and the European Investment Fund was raised. The business’s interest and desire to use bank credits provided under the JEREMIE instrument led to the need of a meeting between banks, business and representatives of the European Investment Fund. The Council of Sectorial Organizations decided to organize the meeting in the second half of November.
During the meeting, the results of the negotiations held between the social partners to specify the minimum social insurance thresholds for 2012 by economic activities were discussed. It was decided to send an objection to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy against the economically unfounded model to specify minimum social insurance thresholds administratively for sectors/branches for which no agreement has been signed.
The representatives of the Council discussed several of the ideal proposed by the Bulgaria – Brazil Sustainable Partnerships Forum, organized by the Chamber. The meeting of the Council of Sectorial Organizations with BCCI was held on the invitation of the President of the Council, Ms. Mariana Kukusheva.