2024 Business to the Rules Awards Presented in Sofia

Valentin Evstatiev, Ekaterina Toteva

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association presents its 2024 Business to the Rules Awards. Sofia, March 27, 2025 (BTA Photo/Minko Chernev)

Sofia,

27.03.2025 22:07

(BTA)

The Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA) presented its 2024 Business to the Rules Awards in Sofia on Thursday. The accolades recognize successful efforts in the fight against the informal economy. According to BICA Governing Board Chair Vassil Velev, since 2018-2019 the shadow segment of the Bulgarian economy has been less than 22%, compared with more than 33% fifteen years ago.

MP Delyan Dobrev received one of the three main awards, which is for "a regulatory instrument or an administrative practice which has contributed to curbing the informal economy and improving the business environment." Dobrev won the distinction for a government programme to compensate non-household consumers of electricity for high electricity prices for the period from July 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024. The award was presented by Labour and Social Policy Minister Borislav Gutsanov, who vowed that the incumbents will do everything to ensure that the minimum wage in Bulgaria is determined according to clear rules.

The Bulgarian Collective Action Platform, the Blue Dot Network and the High-Level Reporting Mechanism received the award for "an individual or an organization who has contributed to curbing and preventing informal economy practices by taking a stand." The distinction was presented by Economy and Industry Minister Petar Dilov. The minister commented that bringing more of the Bulgarian economy to light and increasing public revenues are among the government's priorities.

Broadcaster bTV and its reporter and news anchor Maria Vankova received the award for "a journalist or a media outlet who have contributed to changing public attitudes towards intolerance for the informal economy." The station and the journalist were honoured for the documentary A Cure at All Costs: 4 Years Later, which suggests that the National Health Insurance Fund could cut its cancer medicine expenditures by BGN 100 million annually. The award was presented by Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev.

Vassil Velev, the BICA leader, received a special award for his efforts to bring the shadow economy to light. Presenting the honour, Plamen Dimitrov, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, thanked Velev for their partnership.

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev was among the guests at the ceremony.

/KT/