FOLLOW UP: BBCC Strategy Board Retreat

Between 16-18 May, the BBCC Team and Board of Directors gathered together for a strategy brainstorming discussion. We had the pleasure to discuss the future scope of activities and initiatives for the BBCC, along with our priorities for the second half of 2025 and our plans for 2026.  We also had the chance to talk about the challenges that our members are facing and the needs they have and how we can best help and improve at the services we offer. 

Special thanks to our Board of Directors for sharing their valuable opinion and advice and for their ongoing support for the BBCC team. 

Special thanks to our member King’s Valley Medical & Spa Hotel for the professionalism and for the warm hospitality.  

On 15 May we had the pleasure to host our traditional Meet the Members event where we had pleasure to welcome a special guest – Chris Barton, Him Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Europe who was at Bulgaria for his 4th visit. 

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, Wiser Technology and My Synergy, whose support was instrumental in making this event possible.

Shout-out to Novotel Sofia for being our gracious host. 

And last but not least thank you all our members who attended, bringing together our vibrant community for an evening of meaningful connections and collaboration.

Below is the link of companies that were presented: 

You can find pictures from the event here.

This past week marked a special milestone: three years since the very first peak—Belmeken. What began as a small group taking on a big idea has grown into a powerful movement. From the very start, the mission has been clear: to complete all 56 peaks in Bulgaria > 2,500M, while raising vital funds and awareness for the For Our Children Foundation, helping to give vulnerable children across Bulgaria the brighter future they deserve.

The foundation is thrilled to share that they have now surpassed 18,000 BGN as they push confidently toward the 20,000 BGN fundraising target. Every step they take and every lev raised brings us closer to making a meaningful impact on the lives of so many children across Bulgaria.

If you would like to learn more about our journey and / or contribute to this cause, please visit the Donation Link.

Upcoming 56 Peaks Weekend Adventures

Here are the next planned climbs: 

May 24th & 25th – Two-Day Climb
Location to be confirmed / Logistics Teams call on 21/05

June 7th & 8th – Two-Day Climb
Location to be confirmed

June 14th & 15th – Two-Day Climb
Location to be confirmed

September 4th – The 56th Peak
Musala – The Highest Peak in Bulgaria (see details below)

If you are interested in joining, please send an email to Tony.McMurray@ingrammicro.com or message Tony on WhatsApp or Viber at +359 882 900 882.

Important Notes:
While over 80 climbers have participated so far, please be aware that the logistics team reserves the right to limit participation due to:
Group size restrictions – Groups may reach maximum capacity.
Technical difficulty – Some routes require more advanced mountain skills.

We’re excited to share the amazing news that BBCC’s incredible Executive Director Desislava Miteva has been nominated for the Top 100 Executives of 2025 by Career Show!

Her inspiring leadership, unwavering commitment to the development of the business relations between Bulgaria and the UK, and deep care for the BBCC team and members have made a real impact—and now it’s time to show our support. 💪

VOTE now and help us celebrate the visionary at our helm!

Deyan Blagoev, a valued BBCC member and regional ambassador to Stara Zagora, will be speaking June 5^th at C4DI: the ‘Centre for Digital Innovation’ located at the Port of Humberside in Kingston Upon Hull, England.

You can register for the event here.

He is also scheduled to present on June 26 at the Ave HQ boardroom, which offers a view of the River Mersey in Liverpool.

Both events will feature four speakers and will be hosted by the Barclays Eagle Lab network managers.

The Kingston Upon Hull event is part of Hull Business Week, which Deyan will be attending, while the Liverpool event is in collaboration with the local university.

It is anticipated that around 80 attendees will participate in total across both events, with Deyan representing the Bulgarian logistics software company, Sirma.

The events are prestigious as they represent the Northern Power House economy of the UK.

The British Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with a coalition of business organizations and bilateral chambers of commerce in Bulgaria has voiced strong support for the country’s accession to the eurozone.

We emphasize that adopting the euro will enhance economic stability, attract foreign investment, reduce transaction costs, and improve access to EU financial instruments. The move is expected to benefit Bulgarian businesses—especially SMEs—by fostering competitiveness, encouraging innovation, and easing cross-border operations. We assert that Bulgaria is fully prepared—economically, institutionally, and politically—and call on the European Commission to approve the country’s entry into the eurozone.

You can find the official letter attached below.

Looking to elevate your company’s presence in Sofia?

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🔗 More information

Reacting to news of a trade deal in principle with the US, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:  

“This deal will be met with a huge sigh of relief by many British businesses.  

“The reduction in the 25% tariffs on most of our automotive exports and the removal of levies on steel and aluminium are the biggest wins. 

“These sectors had been left reeling as jobs, investment and sales were all cut or put on hold. This framework agreement will give them some much needed certainty. They will be keen to see it quickly enacted so they can swiftly re-establish orders and supply chains.  

“The news on aerospace, including jet engines is also good news, as is additional protection from tariffs on our pharmaceutical sector.  

“But this must not be the end of the process; we must continue to push the argument for free and fair trade across all economic sectors and that tariffs are a lose-lose position.  

“The commitment to pursue a digital trade deal and make commerce easier in the future is also a worthy ambition. 

“Our bilateral trade is already worth £300bn, we have £500bn invested in the US and it has £700bn of investment stock in our economy.   

“There is a high-level of co-dependency in our economic relationship, and it is in both our interests to continue building upon those strong foundations which have developed over decades. 

“Following on from the India trade deal, the government should be congratulated on what it has achieved this week, but our economy still needs more. 

“Global trading conditions remain precarious. There must be a bold reset agenda with the EU to reduce trade costs, and it must help UK companies seize the opportunities in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region.” 

Source: British Chambers of Commerce

President of the BCC, Martha Lane Fox, will use a speech at Mansion House to urge the government to commit to free trade and to pursue an improved EU deal. 

She will make the plea at the Mansion House Business and Trade Dinner on the evening of Wednesday May 7. In her address, she will also urge the Government to prioritise the BCC’s top six recommendations on improving Brexit. 

Baroness Lane-Fox is expected to say: 

“In an era where traditional globalisation is faltering, the UK stands at a critical crossroads, and our response is becoming increasingly urgent. 

“Building economic resilience must be at the heart of our international relationships and business must be part of that conversation. 

“In an environment where President Trump is slapping tariffs on key trading partners, export expansion isn’t’ merely desirable, it is essential for economic survival. 

“That’s why the upcoming EU-UK Summit is so important. We need concrete results. The absurdity of the bureaucracy is real. A British chocolate producer told the BCC they can ship to the US in two days, yet they can wait up to two weeks for deliveries to France. 

“These issues aren’t just minor inconveniences but major economic drags undermining our competitiveness. The BCC has set out its top six aims for the summit and these must be met if business is to flourish. 

“But we must also remember that the US and the EU aren’t the only shows in town. A free trade deal with India has been agreed. Canada is open to negotiations once more and the Indo-Pacific offers a gateway to a whole new world of opportunity. 

“We must also not be shy about our considerable strengths. We have world leading positions in financial and professional services, and creative industries. We have 90 world-class universities and attractive laws in business governance and intellectual property frameworks. 

“The government’s forthcoming Trade Strategy must make the most of our assets. It should be true to our values on fair and open trade and commit to lower tariffs with key trading partners where we can. 

“Digital trade needs a renewed focus both with key partners and through the World Trade Organisation to improve productivity and reduce costs.   

“And we must lean more heavily into our trade in services, where the UK can develop the fastest export growth. 

“None of this will be easy but if the Trade Strategy delivers and negotiations with the US and EU are successful, then our future can still be bright.” 

Source: British Chambers of Commerce

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Customers can choose between two options with different coverage limits – AxiSmart and AxiComfort, tailored to your individual needs and preferences.

The product’s core coverages include health care for you and your family members, such as examinations with a specialist based on your medical condition, laboratory, morphological and imaging tests, physiotherapy by doctor’s appointment, hospital stay with coverage up to 130% of the clinical pathway cost (including consumables, team selection, robotic surgery, etc.) and medicines. On the other hand, you also get the necessary protection for your home, which includes coverage for immovable and movable property, including adjoining common areas, risks such as fire, natural disasters, earthquake, short circuit, accidents, burglary, glass breakage, etc., third party liability, expenses in case of loss or theft of a key, and coverage for many other risks according to the coverage option you choose. Additionally, you can opt for some more options to give you extra security and financial reassurance in the event of unexpected events, such as:

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