Bulgaria

The government of Bulgaria requested support from Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) primarily in the design of a suitable enabling environment... Show More + for private sector participation in the water, energy, and telecommunications sectors. PPIAF assistance led to significant outcomes being achieved in Bulgaria. In the water sector PPIAF assistance paved the way for the promulgation of the water supply and sewerage services regulation act in February 2005, which led to the establishment of the state energy and water regulatory commission in charge of regulating water supply and sewerage services. In the telecommunications sector, the communications regulation commission was established in 2002 following PPIAF support, which subsequently led to the privatization of the Bulgarian telecommunications company. In the gas sector, PPIAF provided recommendations on the regulatory framework to support the launch of tenders for large new gas distribution regions in Bulgaria, which led to the successful tendering of seven gas distribution concessions. Finally, PPIAF provided support for the whole electricity distribution sector in Bulgaria, providing recommendations on the country's transition to a competitive wholesale market in which a significant portion of internal electricity consumption in Bulgaria was traded in the wholesale market at freely negotiated prices, approved by the regulator. Show Less -

This country level trade brief summarizes insights from the world trade indicators database as well as analyzes national impacts and responses to the food crisis and... Show More + global recession. The trade at a glance tables for Bulgaria provide a snapshot of key aspects of trade policy and performance Show Less -

On the brink of Bulgaria's accession to the European Union (EU), a task force comprised of private and public experts was set up to develop a national corporate governance... Show More + code. Such best practice codes exist already in many countries; their adoption is recommended by the EU transparency directive. Codes are effective tools for helping companies improve their governance practices; provide clearer guidance for financial and non-financial disclosure; foster better engagement of minority shareholders; and, clarify the respective roles of managers and directors. A corporate governance code was much needed for Bulgaria to support the business community's efforts to compete on the EU and international markets. It will give companies that wanted to apply better governance practices, the opportunity to distinguish themselves, said Bistra Boeva, of the University for National and World Economic Studies and co-chair of the task force. "Doing so would inspire investor and lender confidence." Show Less -

This case study describes how a consortium of international development organizations, a commercial bank, and a micro-finance technical-service company worked closely... Show More + to establish ProCredit Bank Bulgaria (PCBB), a highly successful, full-service commercial bank for micro and small enterprises. Fundamentally changing a financial system to serve micro entrepreneurs and low-income clients requires bold decisions and a wide range of skills, experience, and instruments. Show Less -

The note looks at the role the Regional Initiatives Fund Project had in Bulgaria, which tested the social fund approach, as an institutional mechanisms to help the country... Show More + protect incomes of the poor during the transition period. Its micro-projects component funded both, social infrastructure, and innovative micro-projects. The latter, the most innovative, explored different approaches to employment generation, aiming to create longer-term jobs, and, foster the reintegration of disadvantaged groups, back into society. Opportunities for income generation were established by enabling the development of a business environment, which would provide business services such as, training, advice, and marketing techniques. The project targeted ethnic minorities, socially marginal women, vulnerable youth, and disabled unemployed people as beneficiaries. Lessons outline the need to focus on a limited number of clearly defined, and easily monitored types of micro-projects for a successful outcome, and include as well, the need for community participation in the selection, and implementation process, embedded in the project cycle. Furthermore, project proposals should undergo a sustainability analysis, and specific measures to ensure satisfactory project results. Show Less -