The Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA), in its capacity as the National Contact Point (NCP) for Bulgaria of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is organizing an information event on the topic of “Responsible Business Conduct”. It will be held from 10:30 a.m. on November 20, 2023 in the Royal Hall of the Sofia Balkan Palace Hotel (formerly the Sheraton Hotel).

The role of the National Focal Point on the promotion of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is direct and aims to introduce business to these guidelines and good practices and encourage them to adhere to them.

The standards developed in the field of the environment, although optional, are extremely important for the competitiveness of companies in different markets and their inclusion in supply chains. In this sense, the connection with Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) as well as with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is very close. The standards are also directly related to ensuring the safety of society as a whole, giving guidelines for better control over the quality of air, water, soil, waste, as well as their reduction and subsequent recycling.

The main tasks of the National Contact Point are to promote the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct in Bulgaria and to serve as an out-of-court mechanism for resolving cases that have arisen (called “specific instanses”).

The main goal we set for ourselves as the National Contact Point is to raise the awareness of Bulgarian enterprises about the possibilities and advantages of responsible business conduct, as a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth and competitiveness in the process of internationalization.

The upcoming information event will be attended by leading institutions and business representatives represented by the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Bulgarian National Bank, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, banks, etc. It is planned that, within the framework of the event, they together with trade unions and employers’ organizations will present useful and practical information on current topics in this area.

In case of interest, the event profile on the platform should be registered https://www.b2bconnect.bg/bg/events/view/217 or https://forms.gle/Ba5KuVPpRMrqAqWF8 by November 16, 2023.

For additional information, you can contact Gabriela Georgieva, tel: 02/ 940 79 63 and Vesela Petrova, tel: 02/ 940 79 41.

Participation in the event is free.

 

Agenda:  https://www.sme.government.bg/uploads/2023/11/Agenda.pdf