In the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the first official meeting of an interdepartmental working group was held. It was created by order of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and aims to outline the priority sectors and economic activities for the country's economy in which the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) can be involved, as well as to adopt policies to reduce regional imbalances.
Photo: BGNES
The group is led by the Minister of Innovation and Growth, Rosen Karadimov, and includes the Deputy Minister of Finance, Stefan Belchev, of Economy and Industry – Nikolay Pavlov, of innovation and growth – Vesselina Mincheva and Krasimir Yakimov, of regional development and public works – Veselina Terziyska, on defense – Adelina Nikolova, of energy – Iva Petrova, of transport and communications – Boris Gerasimov, of health care – Boyko Penkov, and tourism – Irena Georgieva. It is also represented by the national employers' organizations, trade unions and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, which are also members of the Advisory Council to the Bulgarian Development Bank.
The role of the BDB in the realization of public investments and projects, priority for the economy, incl. The National Capital Investment Program, with support in analysis, evaluation, targeted use of funds and financing.
Among the proposals is the support of the state policy for efficient spending of public funds in the planning and implementation of concessions. Also the financing of infrastructure projects ensuring transport and communication connectivity, promoting regional development by supporting industrial zones, municipal projects, RES projects for own use, etc.
Participants in the working group united around the need to adapt the bank's business and institutional model and preserve the state's current priorities for financing small and medium-sized businesses, innovation, digitalization and sustainability.
After preparing the strategic conceptual framework for the BBR's activity, it must be approved by the Council of Ministers and the changes must be reflected in the bank's regulations. The goal is to start its transformation into a full-fledged development bank.
The main priorities around which the members of the working group have united are programs providing support and control of the use of funds in strategic sectors such as health care, security, defense and the military-industrial complex, the water sector and energy.