site.btaFormer Energy Minister Rumen Radev Elected Chair of BICA Management Board

The General Assembly of Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) elected new governing bodies, including the National Council, the Management Board, and the Control Council, the organization announced on Friday. Former Deputy Chair of BICA’s Management Board and former Energy Minister (2023-2024), Rumen Radev, was elected as the new Chair. The assembly also approved BICA's priorities for the 2025-2028 period.

Radev’s deputies will be Daneta Zheleva, Kiril Boshov, Kanchо Stoychev, and Stefan Chaikov. The Management Board also includes Bozhidar Neychev, Kiril Zhelyazkov, Lyubomir Chakarov, Mariana Iteva, Sofia Argirova-Atanasova, Stefan Vasilev, and Teodora Pehlivanova.

Radev takes over from Vasil Velev, one of BICA's founders, who led the organization for 23 years. Under his leadership, BICA became a key employers' organization, actively defending business interests and contributing to economic and social policymaking. Velev was unanimously elected Chairman of BICA’s General Assembly and was awarded a special distinction in recognition of his contribution.

The General Assembly outlined the association’s main priorities for 2025-2028, including investment promotion, business environment improvement, education, and financial and energy stability. Other key areas of focus include enhancing economic competitiveness, reducing administrative burdens on businesses, fostering innovation, and adjusting the Green Deal policies.

BICA also emphasized Bulgaria’s preparation for joining the eurozone, stressing the need for a stable and predictable economic policy to ensure a smooth transition to the euro and long-term financial sustainability. The organization called for better inflation control, prudent public finance management, and stronger public and business confidence in the euro adoption process.