For the first time Bulgaria participates in the jury that determines the winners of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards – the most prestigious awards for small and medium enterprises in Europe. The Deputy Minister of Economy Alexander Manolev was invited to join the work of the competition council, which determined the finalists and was an official guest at the award ceremony. He also presented one of the six awards at an official ceremony in the Austrian city of Graz in front of more than 500 guests – entrepreneurs, politicians, scientists from all over Europe.

“For us – the jury, it was very difficult to determine the winner in this category, because the participants had many interesting and good proposals,” said the Deputy Minister of Economy. According to him, the sustainable growth of the economy as a whole and of individual companies in the EU must be based on partnership and the exchange of experience.

Deputy Minister Manolev, as a member of the jury and ambassador of small and medium enterprises in Bulgaria, presented the award in the category “Support for business internationalization”. The winner was the Finnish candidate with a project to support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. Among the three finalists was a Bulgarian participant – “Support for digitalization of small and medium enterprises in Bulgaria and Europe” of United Business Clubs.

The European Enterprise Promotion Awards are organized by the European Commission. This is the most important event within the EU in the field, and its meetings discuss the future development of policies tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as measures to support them. The awards are given for the best initiatives that support entrepreneurs and shape the future of small and medium-sized enterprises in Europe.

The jury includes representatives of the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions, leading professors and scientists in the field of entrepreneurship and others.