Ivaylo Naydenov: The creation of an industrial strategy will also give the direction for energy development

A day ago, representatives of the members of the Association of Bulgarian Employers' Organizations (ABEO) - BTPP, BSK, KRIB, AICB, held a meeting with the Prime Minister Academician Nikolay Denkov, the Minister of Energy Rumen Radev and representatives of the government. The business organizations declared their readiness to help especially the coal regions, where a serious transformation of companies and productions is ahead.

Tsvetan Simeonov, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and rotating chairman of the ABEO for 2023, stated that he was satisfied with the meeting. According to him, most of the points contained in yesterday's agreement with the energy companies and miners are acceptable. The government's announced investment intentions are the right step to provide an alternative employment option for striking energy sector workers.

"It would be good to ensure transparency in investing through the public procurement system, so that all willing candidates from Bulgaria and abroad can get involved. So far, the market economy has not invented and imposed a better scheme," stated Tsvetan Simeonov. He shared that the energy transition must start now in order to comply with European requirements, to have technical time to build the infrastructure, for people to have time for retraining and thus to avoid social upheavals.

According to Simeonov, it is right for the state to think about incentives for employers hiring employees from the sector, so that the transition can go smoothly. In this regard, he noted what was shared by "Solar Academy Bulgaria" during the meeting, that according to their calculations, at least 2,000 specialists are not enough in solar energy.

Dobri Mitrev, chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce (BCC), emphasized that the important thing to work on in the current situation is the future of the people, of the regions, of the economy, and in general - of our country.

"The agreement is already a fact; everyone must implement it. The bigger conversation is about the future. For the future of the people who work in these regions, for the future of our energy system, for the future of our industry, our economy and our entire society. This conversation cannot be locked into a 7-point agreement. This is a process that needs to evolve. ABEO supports people's requests for security of their future employment. However, we do not support the way they express themselves. It would be much more civilized if all parties to the dispute sat down at the same table to discuss the possibilities of reaching a balanced position that would satisfy everyone. Bulgaria is the country that has most drastically reduced its carbon emissions since 1990," said Dobri Mitrev, stressing that ABEO and the state must make it clear to the energy sector protesters that alternatives will be developed and they will not lose out your employment.

Vasil Velev, chairman of the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AICB), summarized that the social dialogue should be strengthened and developed, and all partners should participate equally.

"Separate negotiations with only one of the parties in the tripartite dialogue on local industries on issues that affect the entire society does not always lead to a result that is in the public interest," said Vasil Velev. He expressed the hope that the parameters of future public procurements will be formulated in such a way that no winner is already known at the stage of consideration of proposals.

"November 6 is not the final date for submitting investment projects, but a "stage date" and companies that will become familiar with the conditions of tender procedures after November 6 will also be able to participate," Velev emphasized. He supported Tsvetan Simeonov that it would be good to create incentive measures for investors hiring the released employees, instead of giving money and not working for years.

"We wish there would be a critical mass of projects and we emphasize again that transparent conditions for future tender procedures should be prepared, and not conditions for specific investors," said the chairman of AICB.

Ivaylo Naydenov from the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIB) stated that it is important to work on creating an industrial strategy, because it will not only create conditions for the development of the industry, but also give a clear direction for the development of energy. Ivaylo Naydenov drew attention to the fact that there have been attempts to impose one-sided visions of the energy transition, and a consensus must be sought on the issue. Naydenov added that the government should communicate well with potential investors in the process of gathering investment intentions under the territorial plans in order to be able to achieve maximum effect.