International conference Financial and investment support for SMEs - SIMEXPO 2022

The Executive Agency for the Promotion of SMEs and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry are jointly organizing the International Conference "Financial and Investment Support for SMEs - Sofia International Money Expo" (SIMEXPO 2022). The event aims to familiarize businesses in the country with financing and investment opportunities.

The conference will be held in the period from October 3-4, 2022 at the Millennium Grand Hotel - Sofia.

Participants will be able to learn about specific financing and investment opportunities from a number of institutions, and the forum for the third year in a row will provide an excellent field for networking, during which SME representatives can meet new potential business partners.

Within the framework of the accompanying SIMEXPO 2022 exhibition, products and services of financial institutions, investment and guarantee funds and investors, developed mainly in the service of small and medium-sized enterprises, will be presented. Quick and easy access to financial instruments will stimulate investment activity and the implementation of new products and services and contribute to entering new markets.

Registration for participation is at www.b2bconnect.bg (on the page of the specific event) until September 28, 2022 at the latest.

For additional information and questions, you can contact:

- Teresa Mutafova, chief expert in the "International Exhibitions and Conferences" department, IANMSP, tel.: (02) 940 79 88, e-mail: t.mutafova@sme.government.bg;

- Elitsa Popadiyna, chief expert in the "International Exhibitions and Conferences" department, IANMSP, tel.: (02) 940 7982, e-mail: e.popadiyna@sme.government.bg;

- Milen Mollov, expert at "Center for Company Services", BCCI, tel.: (02) 8117 519, e-mail: fairs1@bcci.bg.

Participation in the conference is free of charge and is organized under project No. BG16RFOP002-2.052-0001 "Supporting the internationalization of Bulgarian enterprises by conducting trade missions, business forums, conferences, contact exchanges and bilateral meetings" in implementation of activity 2 "Organization in Bulgaria of business forums, conferences, contact exchanges and other events to create business partnerships" with funds under the Operational Program "Innovations and Competitiveness 2014-2020".

EVENT PROGRAM:

3.10.2022 /Monday/

09.30 – 10.00 Registration and coffee 
10.00 – 11.30 a.m. Plenary session

Moderator: Vladimir Tomov, Chairman of the Council on Investments at BCCI

Commissioner Maria Gabriel

Dr. Liliana Pavlova, Vice President of the EIB (video conference)

Representative of the European Parliament in Bulgaria

Minister of Innovation and Growth

Minister of Economy and Industry

Minister of Finance

Iliya Lingorski, member of the BNB Board of Directors

Tsvetan Simeonov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry/BTPP/

Dr. Boyko Takov, Executive Director of the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium Enterprises /IANMSP/ 

ChBTR representative

Topics:

National Recovery and Resilience Plan

Support measures from European financial institutions

Government measures to support business

Regional investment and cooperation

12.00–13.00 Lunch

Panel discussions

13.00-14.00 Equity investing to support business growth. Sofia as a regional investment hub

Moderator: Pavel Velkov, managing partner of Morningside Hill Capital 

with the participation of Hristo Stoyanov - representative of EIF in Bulgaria, Martin Gikov - Fund of Funds, Maria Marinova - director of BADRI, Dr. Manyu Moravenov - executive director of BSE, representative of BBR, Regional Investment Funds  

Topics:

Trends in equity investing in Europe and Bulgaria in recent years. Strengths and weaknesses of equity investing for entrepreneurs and comparison with other forms of financing

Financing opportunities in Bulgaria for startups and businesses from abroad. Funds based in Bulgaria with a regional and international investment focus

Development of institutional investment in Bulgaria in recent years and expectations in the future

Necessary changes in the ecosystem for attracting foreign capital, including under European programs

14.00-15.00 h. Guarantee and financial instruments to support business 

Moderator: Mr. Nikolay Tsenkov, manager of OGFMSP

With the participation of the representative of the EIB of Bulgaria, Kamen Slavov - vice-chairman and member of the Board of the Fund of Funds, representative of BBR, representative of UBB and others. 

Topics:

Financial instruments to support economic development in times of crisis

Special role of the EIB in assisting with loans for SMEs in Bulgaria

Structures of guarantee instruments. Attention to innovative MIDCAPs and SMEs and risk sharing with intermediary banks

Funding under the programs of the Fund of Funds

State and municipal instruments for guaranteeing social companies, start-ups from Bulgaria and foreign companies starting a business in Bulgaria

15.00-15.30 Coffee break

15.30-16.30 Foreign direct investments - benefit for business and stimulus for the economy

Moderator: Ms. Gabriela Dimitrova, BCCI

With the participation of Bogdan Bogdanov - BAI, Dr. Maria Hristova - CEO SOAPI, Ministry of Economy and Industry, foreign representatives.

Topics:

Sofia - a desirable destination for investments. Guidelines for successful investment projects

Examples of new investments in Bulgaria

Investments in crisis conditions

16.30-17.30 Financial and investment instruments in support of green energy and energy efficiency projects

Moderator: Sofia Kasidova - Head of the "Strategic Analyzes and Development" Department of the BBR

with the participation of European and state institutions, funds and banks - AUER, Fund of Funds, National Trust Ecofund, BSE (Green Center) and others.

Topics: 

Green investments and reforms included in the National Plan for Recovery and Sustainability

Financial instruments for green investments

European promotion of the development of green energies and technologies (green hydrogen)

Sustainable bank financing

ESG – government policies and instruments

4.10.2022 /Tuesday/

9.30 – 10.00 a.m. Registration and coffee

10.00 – 11.00 a.m. Restructuring of Bulgarian business in crisis conditions

Moderator: Mrs. Raina Mitkova - manager of EOS Matrix

With the participation of EOS, PwC, Dobromir Ganev - Chairman of the Board of NSNI, banks, representatives from Bulgaria and Europe

Topics:

Which key business sectors are under the most pressure? How do SMEs deal with economic shocks? Economic measures to support business and expectations for its recovery.

How does the bank's asset quality perform and what levels of provisions are set aside? Will we need another wave of NPL sales?

How is the real estate market developing during the pandemic and economic crisis? 

Is the current situation of stable market prices realistic and what can we expect in 2023?

11.00-12.00 Investment and financial instruments to support youth entrepreneurship

Moderator: Dr. Dochka Vasileva, Fund of Funds 

with the participation of the European Agency for SMEs - video message, Gabriela Dimitrova - BTPP, Vitosha Venture Partners, OGFMSP, UNSS, SIS Credit, OPIK  

Topics:

Trends in the promotion of youth entrepreneurship in Europe and Bulgaria in recent years

Equity and debt instruments to support youth entrepreneurship, basic parameters and requirements

Promotion of student entrepreneurship and international student business cooperation

European, regional, state and municipal programs and tools for promoting youth entrepreneurship in Bulgaria and CEE

What should be changed in the ecosystem for the development of youth entrepreneurship, including under European programs

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch

13.00 – 15.00 Networking with international partners

15.00 – 15.30 Coffee break

15.30 – 16.30 Networking with international partners