A regular meeting of the Business Council was held in the Agro-food sector
On 10.12.2022 at 12:00 in the city of Blagoevgrad, a regular meeting of the Business Council was held in the Agri-food sector in the border regions of Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Kardjali and Smolyan, and the activity is carried out under the project "Business Council - BC 6275 ” financed by INTERREG V/A GREECE-BULGARIA 2014-2020 program, Subsidy contract No. B6.3a.18/13.04.2021.
The meeting was attended by 7 representatives of the sector from the border regions of Haskovo, Kardjali, Blagoevgrad and Smolyan. The hall for holding the meeting was secured technically, being equipped - multimedia, portable computer, printer, as well as information boards, banner and presentation materials, according to the requirements of the Communication and Publicity Guide of the INTERREG V/A GREECE-BULGARIA 2014-2020 program .
The discussion of the current business council developed in the direction of the consequences in the industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those present expressed their concerns about the existing real danger of reducing the production and processing of agricultural products due to the delay in the supply of the necessary means of production and the shortage of labor. Another problem is the bankruptcy of companies in the tourism and restaurant business, which leads to a decline in the consumption of food products. All this leads to a decrease in the production of various products. Regardless of the significant financial resources received through the European funds, no positive impact is felt on production and the resulting deficits.
The main conclusion emerging after the pandemic is that Bulgaria needs to increase its food resources in order to reduce its dependence on imports of agricultural products. A new approach to the structuring of product groups is needed in view of the modern aspects of a food model, as the main factor for the viability of the population. This should also be taken into account with the potential of agricultural production in the country.
The representatives of the sector were united in their opinion that meeting the food needs of the people should become a permanent and priority state policy, and the necessary measures should be taken for this.
The Business Council came up with a decision to initiate changes in the regulatory framework and to hold a series of meetings with the institutions.
