On April 25th, 2025 The Bulgarian Industrial Association celebrated its 45 year anniversary with a formal ceremony. Among the guests were the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, the Chair of the National Assembly Associate Professor Dr. Natalia Kiselova, Deputy prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev, Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, Deputy Ministers, the heads of the National Statistical Institute, the National Health Insurance Fund, the National Social Security Institute, the Financial Supervision Commission, various state agencies and national institutions, members of Parliament, representatives of Bulgaria in the European Parliament, the Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova, members of the diplomatic corps, mayors, heads of branch and regional organizations affiliated with the BIA, managers and owners of companies - members of BIA, leaders of employers' organizations and trade unions, media representatives, as well as former and current BIA employees.
The event was hosted by Mihail Dyuzev, and musical entertainment was provided by the supergroup “The Foundation.” The ceremony opened with the national anthems of the Republic of Bulgaria and the European Union, performed by soloists from the vocal ensemble “Vrabcheta” under the direction of Katya Vuchkova, from the Center for Art, Culture and Education – Sofia.
“It is a great responsibility for me to lead an organization like the BIA, whose history features names such as Eng. Ivan Pehlivanov, Bozhidar Danov, and Radosvet Radev – true leaders who left a lasting mark not only on the Association’s history but also on the economic history of Bulgaria as a whole. Today, as the Association marks its 45th anniversary, we carry within us part of the energy of each and every one of these leaders and follow the milestones they have set for us. We believe that without respect for the past, we cannot have a future”, said BIA President Dobri Mitrev in his ceremonial speech. He briefly reflected on BIA’s role in Bulgaria’s most recent economic development, emphasizing that the Association’s role today is even more important.
“We are here to hear the voice of the business - without translation, without editing. We are here to propose, not to complain. We are here to help the state listen and to help the business to understand. Our future lies in new models of work and education, a sustainable transition to a green economy and digitalization, and above all – a clear strategy for developing Bulgaria as a country where business does not merely survive, but thrives,” Mitrev said.
"It is a true pleasure for me to congratulate you on your nearly half-century anniversary — an impressive milestone that speaks volumes about your very active and pivotal role in the transition from a planned economy to a market economy, your contribution to the establishment of the first health and pension funds, the creation of technology parks at technical universities, the founding of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, and more. I have always been impressed by your solid expertise, your active engagement with socio-economic issues, and your insightful vision for the development of our country. Your vision for a predictable and effective regulatory environment, a competitive Bulgarian business sector, sustainable growth based on innovation and technology, strong professional education, and equality of all forms of ownership — all of these are vital conditions for the prosperity of Bulgarian business - deserves admiration. I would especially like to highlight your role as a valuable partner and a constructive counterpart to institutions, as well as an important participant in the social dialogue. Your voice is not just the voice of business — through your active role over the years, you have proven that you represent the voice of Bulgarian society as a whole," said President Rumen Radev in his address.
The Head of State presented the Chairman of the Bulgarian Industrial Association with the Presidential Honorary Badge "for the contribution of the Bulgarian industrial Association to the development and prosperity of our modern economy, as well as for the cooperation with state institutions in the interest of the business and citizens."
“Founded in a time of a different economic and political system, BIA has had the historic opportunity to endure through transformative times of socio-economic change. Continuing to sustain social partnership is a significant commitment. I hope this ‘young’ age of 45 will make you even more active in the decades to come. We rely on your help because we need your expertise, as we always have.”, said Associate Professor Dr. Natalia Kiselova.
“BIA has always defended the interests of the business. Now it holds the historic mission – along with public institutions – to lift Bulgaria out of the middle-income trap. We must unite around boosting the competitiveness of the Bulgarian economy and break with the prevailing economic nihilism that suggests nothing is produced in Bulgaria – which simply isn’t true.” He emphasized the need of a new economic patriotism, with top priority given to the questions: what do we produce, what are we capable of, and what do we aspire to be.
“We often have disagreements, but we’ve always worked in some sort of symbiosis, because the business cannot exist without workers, and workers cannot exist without employers. I hope we will continue to find the right solutions together to ensure decent incomes for the Bulgarian citizens.”, highlighted Plamen Dimitrov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria in his speech.
The Vice President of the Confederation of Labour “Podkrepa”, Ioannis Parteniotis stated: “45 years is not enough – 45 years is only the beginning, because as social partners, we are called to walk a path that will make Bulgaria stronger.” He added: “BIA has succeeded in establishing and maintaining itself as an organization that symbolizes independence, high expertise, objectivity, and dialogue. We are grateful for the active and effective social dialogue between CL ‘Podkrepa’ and BIA over the years, through which we continue to build the path toward a more competitive Bulgarian economy, decent labor, justice, and social protection for the workers.”
Rumen Radev, rotating chairman of the Association of Bulgarian Employers' Organizations and chair of the board of the Association of the Industrial Capital in Bulgaria, said: “Over these 45 years, the BIA has affirmed itself as a respected representative of Bulgarian business, an active participant in social dialogue, and a reliable partner in shaping policies for sustainable economic development. I congratulate the entire team – generations of experts and leaders – and I believe we will continue to build on our partnership.”
To mark the anniversary, BIA received numerous awards and congratulatory addresses from institutions, organizations, companies and educational institutions.
