UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the British Embassy, Sofia are pleased to invite you to the national conference “Unlocking Hidden Potential: Business Leadership in Refugee Inclusion,” which will take place on Tuesday, 2 December 2025, at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia.

The event will bring together representatives of government institutions, the private sector, international organizations, and civil society to explore how refugee employment and entrepreneurship contribute to inclusive economic growth and how the private sector can play a leading role in fostering social cohesion through business engagement.

Date: 2 December 2025
Location: Hilton Hotel, Sofia
Organizers: UNHCR Bulgaria and the British Embassy 

Agenda

09:00 – 09:30: Registration & Coffee
09:30 – 10:00: Opening Remarks

Speakers from:

  • Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
  • Ministry of Economy and Industry
  • State Agency for Refugees (SAR)
  • Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA)
  • UNHCR 
  • British Embassy
  • Refugee

10:00 – 10:50

PANEL I: Employment – Private Sector Leadership in Refugee Hiring

Objective: To explore how the private sector can help close labor market gaps by hiring, training, and integrating refugees into the Bulgarian workforce.
This session will spotlight company and institutional experiences, and identify practical approaches to create inclusive, refugee-friendly workplaces. The refugee speaker will highlight the refugees ‘community point of view on this subject and provide first-hand experience insights into the challenges and opportunities they encountered. 

Panel Contributions:

  • TBC – Experiences in hospitality and retail sectors – one company
  • Agency for Employment 
  • Caritas
  • Sunotec – Inclusion through renewable energy employment
  • Refugee
  • Moderator: UNHCR

10:50 – 11:20: Coffee and Workshops

Workshops with participants:

Workshop 1: Focus on Refugee Entrepreneurship

Objective: To offer feedback, guidance, and potential connections to refugee entrepreneurs looking to establish or grow a business in Bulgaria.
Participants will collaborate with financial and business professionals to explore pathways to launch and sustain refugee-led ventures.

Facilitator: SIS Credit
Participants: Financial sector, refugee entrepreneurs

Workshop 2: Focus on Employment Pathways

Objective: To identify practical strategies for improving refugee access to employment, vocational training, and upskilling opportunities and provide recommendations for further steps towards fostering inclusive labour market
The discussion will highlight barriers to labour market entry and explore models for targeted support through training, mentorship, and partnerships.

Facilitator: Potentially Caritas/HR company
Participants: Private sector, refugee

11:20 – 12:10

PANEL II: Refugee Entrepreneurship – Unlocking Talent & Innovation

Objective: To highlight the challenges and opportunities facing refugee entrepreneurs and present examples of how business support and legal aid can unlock economic inclusion.
This session will showcase refugee led business stories and examine the role of financial institutions, legal frameworks, and ecosystem support.

Panel Contributions:

  • SIS Credit – Microfinance access for refugee entrepreneurs
  • Refugees Entrepreneurs – Stories of business creation and growth (Cinnamoms – Ukrainain ) and MENA region entrepreneur) 
  • Foundation for Access to Rights – FAR – Legal solutions for refugee entrepreneurs 
  • Moderator: potentially ABLE

12:10-12:25

Presentation of the “Business for Inclusion” Pledge & Toolkit Launch

Objective: To introduce concrete tools and voluntary commitments to help companies operationalize refugee inclusion in hiring, procurement, and potentially ESG/CSR strategies (subject to availability of experts).

Summary of the pledge and invitation to join

Launch of the digital Toolkit (including integration with the Compass chatbot)

12:30 Closing Remarks 

Networking