THE BULGARIAN INDUSTRIAL CAPITAL ASSOCIATION (BICA) was founded in1996. Currently, the Association represents more than 50 holding- and investment companies, 15 branch chambers, 1200 industrial enterprises, employing altogether more than 200 000 people.BICA has developed a widespread network of regional structures, covering more than 60 Bulgarian municipalities.
According to the Bulgarian Council of Ministers’ Decisions from October 2004 and December 2007, BICA was acknowledged as a representative employers’ organization on national level. The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association stands for the positions of its members, representingthem in their relations with the state and public bodies in order to promote favourable businessenvironment and to enhance the competitiveness and the successful performance of the Bulgarianbusiness on the global market. On a regular basis BICA takes an active part in discussions on main macroeconomic parameters such as state budget framework, tax and insurance policy, export strategy, red tape cutting, and implementation of the Lisbon reforms.
Representing the real production sector in Bulgaria, BICA works actively for sustainable development, high standards of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, for the improvement of quality of services of general interest, for encouragement of investments and competitiveness of the Bulgarian industry.
BICA initiates numerous meetings, discussions and fora aimed at the building of a better business climate in the country in cooperation with the legislative and executive authorities among which the National Assembly, its committees, the Council of Ministers and all the economic ministries, the Financial Supervision Commission, the Privatization Agency, National Employment Agency, the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency, the State Agency for Information Technology and Communications, as well as representatives of local and international fi nancial institutions, all political parties represented in the Parliament, etc.
As a member of the Association of the Organizations of the Bulgarian Employers (AOBE), which unites the national representative employers’ organizations in the country, BICA participates actively in the coordination of unifi ed positions of the Bulgarian businesses on important issues in the area of socioeconomic and environment improvement and has proven to be a successful moderator in the negotiations between the social partners. A signifi cant part of the Association’s main visions has been incorporated in the Pact for Social and Economic Development of Bulgaria 2006-2009 and in the public contract signed with the main political parties participating in elections’ 2009 for the mandate 2009 – 2013, especially issues concerning the reduction of tax- and social securities burden and improvement of business climate.Agreements have also been reached on implementing the recommendations for increase of wages and on joint operations of the social partners in the area of active policies implementation on the labour market.
The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association participates in the work of all bodies set up on the tripartite principle, such as:
Through its representatives in the Monitoring Committees of the National Strategic Reference Framework and of all the operational programs and national plans, BICA continues to work successfully to present its views and opinions and to implement them in practice. A number of the Association’s proposals on EU funds absorption promotion, human resource development, economic competitiveness improvement and strengthening the administrative capacity of social partners were taken on board by the relative authorities.
BICA provides information and technical assistance to its members to help them apply for EU fi nancing aimed at improvement of competitiveness, furthering of human resource qualifi cation, promoting of innovations, environmental protection, etc., and renders support in the course of project implementation.Among the most important achievements of the Association are the successfully implemented domestic and international projects in the fi eld of corporate governance improvement and corporate social responsibility promotion, improvement of human resource qualifi cation, social dialogue development, corruption and informal economy restriction, civil society development, fi nancial services development, promotion of employment and equal rights, and the participation of civil society in the defi ning and implementation of policies, etc.
In 2008 the Association joined the Consortium EUGA and thus made another step towards the improving of the Association members’ opportunities to receive current information with regard to a better access to the EU funds and opportunities for direct funding.
As a voice of the Bulgarian listed companies, BICA implements a comprehensive policy for promoting the issuers. Based on its strong positive reputation and substantial expert capacity, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association initiates numerous meetings and discussions, provides statements and visions on various issues and cases concerning the capital market development.
In terms of the global fi nancial crisis and global market downturn, the main challenges before BICA are the promoting of issues and assering of public confi dence through the development of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, and by increased transparency in public companies and companies providing services of common interest. The Association sees as its main partners in these eff orts the government bodies working in this area, the social partners and the trade- and professional organizations.
The Association continues to expand its international presence and position. In 2008 BICA was accepted as member of the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services (CEEP), a partner in social dialogue at the European Commission. Through this membership the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association maintains regular contacts with offi cial institutions and advisory committees of the EU, participates in the drafting and amending of regulations, directives and other legislation documents, which shape the European business climate.
BICA is member of the International Organization of Employers and through it the Association participates in the International Labour Organization. The Association has representatives in the European Economic and Social Committee, including in its political authority, which allows BICA to express opinions on issues related to the economic and social policy of the European Union and to participate in the political life of the Community. Representatives of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association participate in the meetings of the European Social Fund and the Ad Hoc Group to the ESF in support of the social partners, thus providing more complete information to its members about the possibilities for absorption of the European Social Fund.
The adoption of BICA as a full member of EuropeanIssuers (European Association of organizations of public companies) was another recognition for the good work and constructive positions of the Association towards the development of capital markets. The Association has its representative in the Board of EuropeanIssuers, which provides signifi cant opportunities for the development of public companies and capital market in the country based on the transfer of experience and best practices from EU countries, for Bulgaria’s participation in the active dialogue aimed to improve and transpose the regulations of the sector in the EU and the strategic actions undertaken in response to the challenges of the global fi nancial markets.
Currently the Association maintains contacts with all counsellors on trade and economic issues at the foreign embassies in Bulgaria, and with the counsellors at the Bulgarian embassies in most countries.
BICA is a collective member and Vice Chairman of the Governing Board of the ABIRD established in 2005. Both associations continue to actively work on the introduction and applying of the National Code of Corporate Governance and development of corporate social responsibility.
A Vocational Training Centre covering 35 occupations and 52 specialties was licensed to BICA by the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training. The eff orts of the Centre are targeted at raising the qualifi cation of the employees of BICA’s members, as well as at providing training and retraining to those, who wish to adopt new skills or to improve their existing ones in the area of construction, machine manufacturing, administrative services, electrical engineering, tourist services, etc. in accordance with the precise needs of the enterprises for adoption of new skills, required by the modern technologies.
A Center for the introduction of information and communication technologies in small- and medium size enterprises through Internet-based platform and a wide national base for training was built in 2006.
BICA is one of the organizers of the National Awards Ceremony “Mr./Mrs. Economy”. This award is intended to recognize the achievements of the Bulgarian business representatives of active position in the improvement of business climate and improvement of the competitiveness of the Bulgarian industry.
© 2006 BICA. Created by Desart Studio.
© 2006 BICA. Created by Desart Studio.© 2006 BICA. Created by Desart Studio.