Import/Export webinar series and IFE/IFEM Exhibitor Manuals

Next week sees the next instalment in Import/Export Webinar series. Montgomery Group have displayed some information and attached a graphic for you to share with your exhibitors. There are also the links for both the IFE and IFEM exhibitor manuals, you can access the IFE manual here and the IFEM manual here.

It’s almost time for the next session of the Import / Export Webinar Series!

Next week there will be FDReviews’ Stephen Minall, Titan Brands’ Gavin Mclean, and F!S Group’s Kelly Dowson to help you ‘Discover the UK Food & Drink Market’

The session will give you an overview of the UK’s £130 Billion Food & Drink industry and will reveal a wide range of routes to market – helping you to focus your energy on the most successful and efficient opportunities for your product.

Sign up using this link to make sure you don’t miss out on this insightful session.

The link to the rest of the series is here.

Responding to the release of the Government’s Critical Imports and Supply Chain Strategy, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy, at the British Chambers of Commerce said:  

“This strategy provides a substantial and compelling picture of the reliance an open trading economy, like the UK’s, has on these imports.  

“We welcome its publication and its 18 recommendations, particularly the establishment of a Critical Imports Council, offering a focus on how the strategy is being delivered.  

“We believe there is a role that trade policy can play, alongside inward investment strategy and industrial policy, to increase supply chain security. 

“We would encourage Government to consider using free trade agreements and other mutual recognition deals with like-minded partners to broaden the UK’s supply sources. 

 “In particular, we hope the UK can develop deeper relationships with key critical material countries like Chile, and successfully conclude a Critical Minerals Agreement with the US.   

“The pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East show the UK’s deep connectivity with the rest of the world for key medicines, communications technology and components for manufacturing. 

“We believe the Strategy sets out the right approach and look forward to engaging on how it can be delivered in the interests of growth in trade and inward investment.” 

The application process has commenced for the third edition of the national competition “Best Youth Startup in Bulgaria 2024,” organized by the Fund of Funds and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” as announced by the organizers. The competition is under the patronage of the Minister of Innovation and Growth and the Rector of Sofia University.

The Fund of Funds emphasizes that the competition will once again provide individuals or teams with the opportunity to develop their innovative ideas, showcase entrepreneurial skills, and gain valuable experience within a ten-week mentorship program before the final presentation of their ideas. Participants can include students and young people nationwide up to the age of 29, as well as 11th and 12th-grade students with innovative business ideas. Projects from all fields and at different stages of development – conceptual, early, or advanced stages – are eligible to participate.

For the whole article in Bulgarian here.

British citizens living abroad are now eligible to register to vote in UK general elections, regardless of how long they’ve been living outside the UK. Anew law, coming into effect tomorrow, removes the previous 15-year time limit.

The Electoral Commission is calling on voters in the UK to help spread the word and tell friends and family living abroad to check if they are eligible. The Commission is working with partner organisations to inform eligible voters around the world.

People that have previously lived in or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK parliament elections. They can register online here and will need to confirm their personal information every three years. Under electoral law, those on an electoral register are also permitted to donate to political parties and campaigners.

Craig Westwood, Director of Communications, said:

“This change gives more British citizens living abroad the opportunity to participate in UK Parliament elections, and to contribute to the funding of political parties and campaigns.

“We know there are eligible voter in every corner of the world so we’re calling on those with friends and family abroad to help spread the news. With general election likely this year, it is important this newly enfranchised group of voters are aware of the change and can take action. Registering to vote can be done online in just five minutes.”

The change is part of the UK Government’s Election Act, passed in 2022. The government estimates that the abolishment of the 15 year rule could mean three million more British citizens could be eligible to vote.

British citizens living abroad will need to provide details of the address and time they were last registered or resident in the UK. Local authorities, which are responsible for the electoral roll in their area, must be able to verify an applicant’s identity and past connection to the area.

More information is available on the Electoral Commission website. Voters living overseas can find contact details for the relevant local council by entering the postcode of the last place they lived in the UK, using the Commission’s postcode lookup tool.

In 2024 Arsenal Supporters Club Bulgaria celebrates its 20th anniversary with series of exclusive charity events. Along with its annual blood donation campaign and charity football tournament for ladies to help children with onco hematological diseases beat cancer, this year Bulgarian gooners are organizing a charity exhibition to mark not only their birthday but also 20 years since the Invincibles` season of Arsenal FC.

Founded on 6 th of June 2004 – in the end of a historic season in English football when Arsenal FC reigned the Premier League becoming champions with 0 loses and being awarded a unique golden trophy for this remarkable achievement – ASCB has always been true to its football club`s core values and beliefs. Being the largest supporters’ club of a foreign football club in Bulgaria with more than 950 active members taking part in different charity activities in various cities all over the country, for the last 2 decades Bulgarian gooners have managed to gather and donate more than 80 000 BGN for different causes and charity organizations in Bulgaria. After publishing 3 books and supporting 2 theatre shows now ASCB are planning another surprise for everyone who loves culture and football – a special traveling exhibition of 20 fan art illustrations (100×60 cm) by the artist Dimitar Yotov (D-Iotov ART) capturing iconic moments of Arsenal`s invincible season. The inauguration of the exhibitions is going to take place in Sofia this spring and then visit Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Stara Zagora and Veliko Tarnovo. All funds raised during the event will be donated for charity.

Being a clear example of how football can unite people for good, Arsenal Supporters Club Bulgaria is looking for like-minded people and organizations who recognize its values and wishes to support this charity exhibition. If you believe you are one of them you may contact ASCB at: chairperson@arsenal-bulgaria.com and learn more about the event.

The main objective of the procedure is to provide targeted support to Bulgarian enterprises to enhance their innovative activities through the development of innovations in the thematic areas of the Innovation Strategy for Intelligent Specialisation 2021-2027 (ISIS 2021-2027).

The total amount of non-repayable financing under the procedure is BGN 127,000,000. Depending on the category of the enterprise, the co-financing percentage ranges from 25% to 60%.

For more information in Bulgarian here.

On 4 January 2024, Nippon Express Holdings, Inc., the renowned Japan-based logistics company, completed the acquisition of Cargo-Partner subsidiaries in Central and Eastern Europe. This acquisition strengthens Nippon Express’s global logistics network, which spans over 739 locations.

Cargo-Partner, headquartered in Austria, has a significant presence in Central and Eastern Europe and offers diverse logistics services, including air and ocean freight forwarding.

BOYANOV & Co. acted as Bulgarian legal counsel to Nippon Express together with the global legal counsel Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The firm provided advice and assistance on the Bulgarian legal aspects of the deal. The team of BOYANOV & Co. was led by Partner Nikolay Zisov and included Associate Deyvid Iliev.

ESG is again on focus! Have a look at the forthcoming ESG trainings designed specially to give you the overview & insights needed for a thorough understanding of different ESG aspects:

Mandatory ESG reporting – EU CSRD & ESRS Standards – during this course, participants will orient themselves in the complex structure of the ESRS, learn what to look for and where, and gain confidence in navigating and working with the standards. Find more information about the training here.

ESG & non-financial reporting – this PwC’s Academy programme includes 4 interrelated modules that provide a comprehensive overview of sustainable development, non-financial reporting and the latest changes and trends in the ESG. Find more information about the training here. 

All forthcoming ESG trainings can be found in our Calendar of Open Seminars.

Register for your course of choice here.

Winter travel is a must when you plan a successful 2024. Combine your next business trip with classic winter lifestyle and the beauty of 5-star luxury venue in the capital.

Get the best offer from Grand Hotel Sofia with this 15% discount proposal, available for dynamic rates bookings in the period until 31.03.2024. 

The accumulated price responds most vividly to your plans, as you can enjoy breakfast, outstanding dinner in Shades of Red or tour in the cradle of the city’s cultural life.

Your next winter getaway awaits!

Learn more here.

Mariya Gabriel, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, shared on LinkedIn:

“As of January 1, 2024, the UK is back to being part of Horizon Europe – the world’s largest funding programme for research and innovation.

This will further strengthen the cooperation between BG & GB scientific communities and give researchers opportunities to tackle the most urgent global challenges – with the help of innovation and technology.

Bulgaria and the UK are excellent partners in science, innovation and tech. Increased scientific collaboration will boost our economies, foster innovation and create jobs.

During Horizon 2020, more that 50% of all Bulgarian projects were involving a UK partner. The UK was among the top partners that Bulgarian researchers had chosen.

Ranked as the world’s fourth most ‘innovative economy’, the UK has produced more tech unicorns than any other European country.

On the other hand, Bulgaria boasts a vibrant tech ecosystem, supported by talented innovators ready to change the world for the better. Bulgarian scientists are among the top 2% of the best scientists worldwide.

The creation of the Bulgarian Expansion Bridge (BEX), in partnership with the British Bulgarian Business Association (BBBA) and the Bulgarian tech community, is a result of the strong BG–GB partnership and a recognition of BG tech excellence.

BEX helps Bulgarian businesses go global by supporting their set up in the UK and their access to funding, market and tech ecosystems.

Bulgaria heartedly supports the UK’s association to Horizon Europe and sees it as a way to build on our thriving partnership and to enable our scientists to develop ground-breaking solutions.

You can read more in our joint article with the UK ambassador in Bulgaria – Dr. Rob Dixon Here.