BUSINESS INFORMATION AND CONSULTING CENTRE SANDANSKI ASSOCIATION

Association Business Information and Consulting Centre – Sandanski (BICC – Sandanski) is a nongovernmental organisation with more than 20 years of experience in the field of local economic and social development, training and mentoring in entrepreneurship and financial/professional development. BICC – Sandanski is a membership association. Currently, the organisation has 35 active members which include private entrepreneurs, business organisations, SMEs and people related to the business and economic development in the region. BICC provides local companies with business development support, consulting services and international contact. At the same time, the organisation aims to foster cooperation with foreign partners and attract foreign investors in the region. BICC is well entrenched in the local business community and enjoys excellent relations with state and local authorities. In 2008, BICC – Sandanski became a part of Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) - a European network that involves more than 600 organisations and 4000 skilled professionals from 40 countries. During the years of its existence, the organisation has implemented various projects aimed at supporting both the economic and social development of the region of South-West Bulgaria. BICC-Sandanski actively cooperates with more than 800 enterprises from Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil districts. The organisation disseminates targeted information, provides business consulting services, organises various workshops and other capacity building events for SMEs, foster business cooperation both at cross-border and international level by providing support for participation at matchmaking events and other B2B initiatives, etc. The organisation implements various research projects on the business environment and specifics of the region of Southwest Bulgaria, as it cooperates actively with local stakeholders, policymakers and the business community. In addition, BICC is implementing multinational projects in various spheres such as tourism development, cultural promotion and support to local cultural operators, non-formal education, development of entrepreneurship capacities of young people, women and other NEETs, etc. BICC – Sandanski is experienced in managing and coordinating projects under various programmes such as Erasmus +, Interreg IPA CBC, European Territorial Cooperation Programmes, COSME, Horizon 2020, Bulgarian OPs, etc. Overall, within the past 20 years, BICC - Sandanski has organised more than 150 multidimensional events and activities with more than 5 000 participants which helped build an image of a trustworthy, competent and reliable partner on the regional and transnational level. BICC - Sandanski has been renowned as a reliable partner of various stakeholders, both private and public of the region of Blagoevgrad and neighbouring cross-border communities in Greece and Bulgaria. As part of its rich portfolio of international projects under programmes such as Erasmus + and COSME, BICC - Sandanski has established long-term cooperation with organisations and institutions of Europe and Asia.