“MADE IN BULGARIA” – 2011 opened at Universiada Hall

The President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tsvetan Simeonov participated in the opening of the trade exhibition “Made in Bulgaria” which this year takes place in Universiada Hall, Sofia. The organizers from Union “Made in Bulgaria”, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and “Business center – Bulgaria” Ltd. put a start to the 17th edition (1995 – 2011) of the exhibition.

“Bulgarians still believe that the quality of Bulgarian products is closer to what they consider a product should have as consumer value”, said the BCCI President at the press conference.

Asked why they buy Bulgarian products, 41,2% of people answered because of the good quality and 30% said “Because I am Bulgarian!”

According to the organizers there is a patriotic air in the replies as compared to 2010, and there is a drop in the per cent of consumers which avoid buying Bulgarian goods (2,8% in 2011 as compared to 4,5% in 2010). Affordable prices of Bulgarian products were leading for 12,8% of customers and 10,4% expressed wish to encourage manufacture.
This year 150 exhibitors participate in the exhibition, which is about 50% lower than previous year. According to the organizers, this is both due to the crisis and the change of venue. The rents at the new location are almost 30 Euro cheaper per square meter, which is about 25% less than the prices paid last year, Tsvetan Simeonov explained. He expressed confidence that this decrease will affect the prices of exhibited products as well.

Visiting hours: 10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Entrance is free.

•    Participants by sectors: knitwear and underwear – 45%; clothes – 14%; leather articles – 12%; sports goods – 10%; household products – 2%; foods and beverages – 5%; jewellery – 4%; perfumery and cosmetics – 8%.
•    New participants – 15 companies. 17% of companies – exhibitors are members of BCCI.

More than 2000 Bulgarian companies have exhibited their products at the “Made in Bulgaria” exhibition over the past 17 years. Most of them are representatives of the textile industry, which is among the biggest employers in the country and one of the few sectors whose products directly reach European consumers. Over 113 260 people are employed in the tailoring sector in our country. The sector is the second biggest employer in Bulgaria, after the public administration and employs 19.30% of all persons working in industry.

The ambition of the organizers is to increase trust in Bulgarian goods and services so that they are preferred by consumers. Through their participation companies have a chance of optimizing the technological time for distribution of their products, broadening their market, attracting investors and displaying their latest products. Participation in the exhibition allows companies to increase their competitiveness in the sector, to expand the circulation of their goods and to improve the business climate and relations with their partners.

•    Traditional survey held by the organizers for 2011:

Why do you buy Bulgarian products?
41,20% - Good quality
30% - Because I am Bulgarian!
12,8 % - Lucrative price
10,4% - To encourage production
2,8% - Larger variety
2,8 % - I avoid buying Bulgarian products.

Union “Made in Bulgaria” will continue the tradition of awarding the best companies and products at the exhibition. For all participants it is a matter of prestige and honour to receive the “Golden Lion” and “Silver Lion” awards for quality.

The awards and certificates for companies and journalists will be bestowed at official award ceremony on 8 December, at 6:00 p.m. in Universiada Hall. Traditionally, officials and representatives of foreign trade and diplomatic missions to Bulgaria that support Bulgarian manufacturers through the idea “Select the Bulgarian” have been invited.