Support in market

Ø Experienced BBCC Mission Leader and Mission Manager

Ø British Embassy briefing

Ø BBCC local office and British Embassy Commercial staff

Ø High-level business contacts

Ø Local networking opportunities

BULGARIA is an exciting place to do business. Developments over recent years have been remarkable. Last year Bulgaria joined NATO and 2007 is the target date for EU accession. The country’s firm commitment to full European integration has led to a huge upsurge of business interest and activity across the board. In answer to the urgent need to meet EU standards and upgrade all aspects of infrastructure, opportunities for export, investment and consultancy exist in almost every sector. Priorities include the development of agriculture and food processing, construction, electronics and IT, telecommunications, energy, environment (notably water and waste water treatment and management), textiles and clothing, tourism and transportation.

Business between Britain and Bulgaria continues to expand but needs to increase further if we are to compete successfully with many of our EU partners. This mission offers you the chance to explore a market where the best opportunities exist now but may well not be on offer for much longer, as Bulgaria moves closer to fulfilling the demands of accession.

The cost of taking part is just £515 per person (members’ rate) and £565 for non-members. This package includes a return flight from London Gatwick (depart Monday 10.30 am, return Friday 9.15 am), airport transfers in Sofia, four nights’ accommodation on bed-and-breakfast basis at the centrally located 5-star Grand Hotel, attendance at the official reception hosted by the British Embassy and all administrative costs. Optional visits to regional business centres may be arranged subject to demand.

BBCC’s Sofia office will be closely involved in the mission programme and available to assist wherever possible. In addition Commercial staff at the British Embassy in Sofia will be pleased to offer advice and guidance in advance of and during your visit, subject to charging for any help which exceeds an hour of staff time.

To maximise the impact of your visit it is essential to identify potential business partners and arrange meetings before departure. BBCC will provide basic briefing and point you to websites of various organisations offering background information on Bulgarian politics, economics and business.

However, unless you already have contacts to pursue during the mission, it is advisable to consider commissioning market research from the Commercial Section of the British Embassy. Research can cover a number of areas such as market background, existing competition and identifying agents and is charged according to the number of hours requested (minimum charge £400 for 12 hours’ work). Within the number of hours you pay for it is possible to ask the Embassy to make appointments for contacts already identified. This market research service goes under the name of OMIS and can by organised through your local Business Link, who will advise on charging and related issues (visit www.businesslink.org to find your local Business Link office). Mission members who do not commission research may be provided with up to one hour’s free assistance – in practice this will usually consist of an unvalidated list of contacts from local directories. The deadline for commissioning research is Monday 11th April.

BBCC

BRITISH BULGARIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Support in market

Ø Local networking opportunities

BBCC

BRITISH BULGARIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO Box 123 s Bromley s BR1 4ZX

Tel/Fax +44 (0)20 8464 5007 s Email bb_chamber@onetel.com