Within the European Union (EU), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) provide employment to over 100 million people and produce more than half of Europe’s GDP. In Bulgaria, SMEs contribute to 75.7% of total employment and 65.3% of the added value in the economy in 20181. They are of great importance for the growth and competitiveness of the European and Bulgarian economy. SMEs are the source of innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change and resource efficiency.
The “National Strategy for Small and Medium Enterprises” 2021-2027 includes six areas of impact, each of which contains specific strategic goals to support SMEs on the way to making Bulgaria a more attractive place to start a small business, the development and its rapid growth, while at the same time the country is an active participant in the Single European Market.
The objectives of the European programs are:
- Entrepreneurship;
- Access to markets;
- Access to finance;
- Digitization and skills;
- Better regulation and business environment – Bulgarian SMEs are well informed and have at their disposal a single information point and an improved consultation process;
- Environment – more renewable energy sources, as well as improving their environmental performance and adopting the production and distribution of green products with the EU eco-label.
The envisaged entrepreneurship measures are:
- Measure 1.1 Promotion of the entrepreneurial ecosystem;
- Measure 1.2 Promotion of entrepreneurship training in schools and the entrepreneurial transformation of Bulgarian higher education institutions;
- Measure 1.3 Support for start-ups;
- Measure 1.4 Promotion of key types of entrepreneurship – high-tech entrepreneurship, youth entrepreneurship, female entrepreneurship and family business, green entrepreneurship;
- Measure 1.5 Support for crafts, entrepreneurship in rural areas and creative industries, incl. at the regional level
Planned measures for Access to Markets are:
- Measure 2.1 Promoting the internationalization of SMEs – Need to facilitate access for SMEs to the EU Single Market and external markets;
- Measure 2.2 Support for SMEs to participate in trade promotion activities – increase the share of SMEs that advertise their goods and services on international markets, increase the number of SMEs that use Export Hub Bulgaria;
- Measure 2.3 Specific support for SMEs with high export potential – modern technological development, digitization, skill formation and development of new products by SMEs with high export potential to further promote their internationalization and export activity;
- Measure 2.4 Support for the development of electronic commerce;
- Measure 2.5 Support for the introduction of quality standards and standards for automatic identification and electronic data exchange to improve the access of SMEs to the Single Market.
Planned measures for Access to financing are:
- Measure 3.1 Financial instruments to support the competitiveness of SMEs;
- Measure 3.2 Provision of financial instruments and guarantee schemes for investment financing and export activity of SMEs;
- Measure 3.3 Provision of financial instruments for micro-enterprises and small enterprises;
- Measure 3.4 Support for start-ups and scale-up enterprises to access financing;
- Measure 3.5: Support for small projects promoting interregional cooperation of SMEs.
Anticipated measures for Digitization and skills are:
- Measure 4.1 Promotion of the digitization of SMEs;
- Measure 4.2 Support for the digital transformation of industrial SMEs;
- Measure 4.3 Support for the acquisition of digital skills;
- Measure 4.4 Encouraging the participation of SMEs in dual training (training through work) – the participation of SMEs in the process of including students in practical training. The measure is related to the “Competitiveness and Innovations in Enterprises” Program, Human Resources Development Program, Science and Education Program for Smart Growth;
- Measure 4.5 Introduction of standards and procedures for validation of acquired skills – in particular in the field of: financial management and management accounting; business strategies and investment planning; marketing and marketing strategies; export skills; digital skills, e-commerce skills, etc.;
- Measure 4.6 Develop an e-learning platform and tools and promote online-based training for SMEs – Need for e-learning platforms and courses to provide training anytime, anywhere, at an affordable price and with guaranteed quality.
Planned measures under Better Regulation and Business Environment are:
- Measure 5.1 Provision of digital services for SMEs;
- Measure 5.2 Support for better connectivity of SMEs: creation of a network of SMEs and improved consultation process;
- Measure 5.3 Promotion of the role of the SME Ambassador – Bulgarian SMEs are well informed and have at their disposal a single information point and an improved consultation process;
- Measure 5.4 Improving the business environment for SMEs – reducing the administrative burden, obtaining a building permit; property registration, especially at the municipal level; connection to the electricity distribution network; enforcement of contractual clauses; participation of SMEs in public procurement; application of SMEs for European and national funding;
- Measure 5.5 Facilitating the participation of SMEs in public procurement;
- Measure 5.6 Second chance, delayed payments and simplification of procedures for the transfer of an enterprise – entrepreneurs experiencing difficulties can quickly and easily close a bankrupt enterprise and open a new one;
- Measure 5.7 Overcoming information asymmetries: development, construction and promotion of a Portal for SMEs.
Anticipated measures for the Environment:
- Measure 6.1 Support the transition to a low-carbon economy by improving the energy and resource efficiency of SMEs and increasing the use of renewable energy sources;
- Measure 6.2 Promotion and introduction of environmental management certification for SMEs;
- Measure 6.3 Support for the participation of SMEs in the strategic value chains of the European Union;
- Measure 6.4 Improving the capacity of SMEs in connection with the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy;
- Measure 6.5 Promotion of green products with the EU eco-label, the Environmental Technology Verification System and circular design.
