In 2008 and 2009 the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is working on projects financially supported by the EU and other international programmes. These projects are mainly aimed at fostering the activity and increasing the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises in the field of the environment and energy efficiency, enhancing the business environment and in the social sphere. 
CCI – Stara Zagora participates in the largest EU Network Enterprise Europe Network, in collaboration with 13 further Bulgarian business support organisations. The six-year project started in 2008. It is supposed to function as the main instrument of the European Commission to increase the competitiveness of the EU SMEs. The project is co-financed by the Directorate General Enterprise and Industry of the European Commission, with its main goal being to provide integrated business and innovation services to SMEs. (more information on page 54).
In 2008, in partnership with the French eco-organization Enviropea, the Association Civil Society – Stara Zagora, and the Community Donors Fund – Stara Zagora, the Chamber implemented the project European Ecobridges. It was co-financed by a EuropeAid Program of the Directorate General Environment of the European Commission. Within the project, several manuals have been developed to be used as managerial tools in running environment-related activities. The Bulgarian and French partners exchanged experience in this field, established new partnerships, and planned further action to build on the achievements.
The environmental problems and their solutions are among the priority areas to be discussed by the Chamber in 2009 as well. The Ecocenter and the Consultative Ecocouncil established in 2007 in the framework of the project Partnership for Ecopolicy, and involving experts of over 40 regional organizations and institutions, is sustainable and continues its activity.
In September 2008, the project Change was started with the financial support of the Intelligent Energy for Europe Program. As part of this project, the Chamber is partnering with the Eurochambers and the National Chambers of 12 EU member states in establishing a network of Chambers providing consulting services in the field of energy efficiency. The target is to advise 800 companies from all over the country in effective use of the conventional energy sources and for utilisation of renewables by the end of 2010.
In 2008 within both the projects CASE and IMPACT, co-financed by the Business Support Program, experts from the Chamber provided consultation for over 20 companies from the region in implementing the Acquis Communautaire in their specific field of activity and their products.
When Enel Operations Bulgaria AD laid off some of its workforce, it provided them with contractual grants from a social programme in order to start their own businesses. The Chamber‘s experts monitored the business activities of 15 such companies. In its social projects the Chamber is partnering with the National Vocational Training Center (NVTC) – Stara Zagora Branch. Training courses have been organised for unemployed people from Stara Zagora, Kazanlak, Chirpan, and Radnevo, who achieved vocational qualifications. Other people acquired skills and motivation to start their own businesses. Within projects co-financed by the PHARE program and the program BYOB (Be Your Own Boss), Chamber’s experts provided individual consulting to start-ups. The new entrepreneurs obtained a Practical Guide organised into 8 particular business topics. The guides, together with additional information, were published on the specialised Internet e-learning platform.
In 2009, the Chamber and the NVTC are continuing to work within partner projects with several companies aimed at re-qualification of employees and new staff hired. Some of the partners are Dinel OOD and Adax EOOD.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Stara Zagora
6000 Stara Zagora, G. S. Rakovski st., 66
Tel./fax 042 626297, 626033, 646194
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www.chambersz.com
