BIA

	Center of Economic and Social Policy Center Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Center International Organizations and Programmes Clean Industry Center Center of International Economic Relations Center Industrial Development Center of Intellectual Property Center Information Security Center of Vocational Training Center for Computer Training Internet Center Depart of Legal Services Arbitration Court Services in the sphere of public communications

International Organizations and Programmes Centre /IOPC/

The International organizations and programmes centre was established in 1993 and it carries out the partnership of BIA, as well as partnership projects with BUSINESSEUROPE, the European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee, TAIEX, the International Labour Office (ILO), the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and other international organisations. The Centre is a partner in projects of BIA with the members of BUSINESSEUROPE, the „Koblenz” Craft Chamber, the Management Academy of Saxony (MAS), SIMEST SpA, CIPE, TRAIL (Know-How Fund).
The activity of IOPC is focused on the members of BIA and it renders assistance through international projects to their involvement in the Euro integration issues, the EU Acquis Communautaire, the development of small and medium sized enterprises and awareness of the European requirements to the Bulgarian businesses. During the years of its existence, the Centre has realized multiple projects on the following major themes:

Development of entrepreneurship and SME – Projects in the framework of the PHARE programme, PHARE – TEMPUS, PHARE – Partnership, PHARE – JOPP

Social dialogue
– Strengthening the social dialogue structures – the PHАRE programme
– European Social dialogue – joint projects with ILO, BUSINESSEUROPE, IOE
– Social dialogue in companies – joint project with the German association of employers’ organizations - BDA (Management Academy of Saxony - MAS)
– New forms of social dialogue – development of Financial participation of workers in a project financed by the European Commission with EU employers’ organisations

Strengthening the sector organisations
– Creation of the Bulgarian Association of food and drink industry (BAFDI) and of the Bulgarian Association of textiles and clothing (BATEC) with the help of projects under the Business Support Programme (BSP)
– Development of the collective labour bargaining, Lisbon strategy, maintaining contacts with the media (ILO, IOE)
– Membership of the Bulgarian sector organizations to the European sector federations

Strengthening of the regional organisations
– Occupational safety and health at work – creation of an occupational health service by an employers’ organization – joint project with the ILO
– Project on occupational safety and health at work for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (International training centre of the ILO - Turin)
– Regional contribution payment centres (social secretariats) – means of supporting the SMEs and to combat the informal economy – joint project with the ILO
Brochures were published by the ILO and films broadcasted on CNN of the good practices of BIA on the creation of these services by employers’ organisations.

European requirements to the business (Acquis Communautaire)
– Safety of foods, textile industry – seminars with TAIEX
– Quality management systems – Leonardo da Vinci programme
– Genetically modified organisms – Leonardo da Vinci programme

In the framework of the European Innovation Centre consortium – IRC /IV, V, VI Framework Programmes of the EU/
– Sector meetings, energy efficiency, technological transfer, best practices in the field of innovations

Involvement of businesses in the use of the EU Structural Funds
– Joint project with BUSINESSEUROPE (BOSMIP 1)
– Working meetings with TAIEX on regional development and involvement of the Bulgarian social and economic partners in the use of Structural Funds

Creation of regional employers’ network
- EU Applicant Countries Employers’ Organizations Network – ACEON (2001), jointly with the European Commission
- South East Europe Employers’ Organisations Forum – SEEEF (1999), jointly with the International Labour Office (ILO)
- Training of employers’ organizations from Central and Eastern Europe and from the region of Central Asia and Caucasus – joint activity with the ILO


Mr. Branimir Handjiev – Director General 16-20, Alabin Street, 1000 Sofia Tel.: +359 2 987 09 91, 932 09 22 Fax: +359 2 987 26 04 e-mail: branimir@bia-bg.com

top