Investment projects worth over BGN 800 million are starting in Bulgaria. The total number of newly created jobs will exceed 2,500. This was announced by Deputy Economy Minister Alexander Manolev during an official award ceremony for the winners of the 16th edition of the Annual Responsible Business Awards, organized by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum.

“We need more initiatives to focus on successful companies in Bulgaria, because they have a number of reasons to be proud of their achievements,” said Alexander Manolev. According to him, for the last 10 years the private sector in our country has created over 100 thousand new jobs. “A significant part of them are conscientious employers who continue to develop today. And who do not forget that in order to have sustainability you have to invest in society, “said the Deputy Minister of Economy.

He presented the awards in the “Investment in Society” category, where Raiffeisen took first place with the “Choose to Help” donation campaign.

In the 16th edition of the competition for corporate social responsibility, a record 112 projects of 71 companies competed in six categories. The awards aim to promote the best practices of companies in areas such as ecology, education, employee development, local communities and society as a whole.

The award ceremony was also attended by the Mayor of Sofia Municipality Yordanka Fandakova, the Minister of Environment and Water Neno Dimov, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Biser Petkov, the Deputy Minister of Education and Science Denitsa Sacheva and others.