12.07.2024 / Visit of the APACCCEEC to Burgas

In the period 10-12 July 2024, the Director of the APACCCEEC, Dr. Momchil Stanishev, and Mr. Zahari Zahariev, Expert, visited the city of Burgas to promote the upcoming second edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture, which will be held in the city from 10 to 13 September 2024.

During the visit Dr. Stanishev held a meeting with Ms. Lidiya Stankova, Director of the Department of Agriculture – Burgas Regional Office. Ms. Stankova confirmed the commitment of the Department of Agriculture – Burgas to assist in the promotion of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture. The Director of APACCCEEC presented to Ms. Stankova another recent initiative of the Center, which could attract the attention of partners of the Department of Agriculture – the Promotional campaign for sending samples to the new Permanent Pavilion of CEE countries in Ningbo, China, which is still in progress.

Ms. Stankova asked whether Chinese consumers are interested in some goods traditionally produced in the Burgas region. Dr. Stanishev emphasized that Bulgaria is one of the countries that has a positive balance of trade with China in terms of agricultural products. The Director of the APACCCEEC also explained the specifics of the process of sending the samples and transporting them to the city of Ningbo.

The same day, another meeting was held – with Mr. Valentin Bialkov – zoologist engineer and member of the team of the National Agricultural Advisory Service – Burgas branch. NAAS is one of APACCCEEC’s partners in the implementation of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture and Mr. Bialkov learned about the progress of the initiative – the successful first edition of the Academy in the city of Varna and the preparation of the second edition in Burgas. Dr. Stanishev and Mr. Bialkov discussed the current program of the Academy and how each panel contributes to the development of the participants’ project ideas. The Promotional campaign for sending samples to the new Permanent Pavilion of CEE countries in Ningbo, China once again became the main topic of the discussion – the representative of the NAAS watched videos from the Pavilion and committed himself to promoting information about the campaign among his contacts and partners from the Burgas region.

On July 11, APACCCEEC organized a promotional event for the upcoming second edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture. The event was held at the Burgas Branch of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, located in the Cultural Center “NHK“ and was attended by representatives of business, the NGO sector, academia, as well as young people showing interest in participation in the Academy.

Dr. Stanishev explained the objectives of the Academy and its role as a successor to the 2023 Accelerator Programme for agricultural start-ups between China and CEE countries. The participants of the promotional event found out about the general rules and regulations of the Academy, terms and conditions for participation, the application forms, the provisional program and the financial prize of 5000 BGN for the winner of each edition.

On July 12, the APACCCEEC team visited the Burgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), where they met with the Chairman of the BCCI Mr. Todor Demirkov, and the General Secretary Ms. Boryana Zheleva. Dr. Stanishev discussed with Mr. Demirkov the possible participation of representatives from business as mentors in the Burgas edition of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture and the participation of companies from the Burgas region at the Permanent Pavilion of the APACCCEC in the city of Ningbo. The Chairman and the General Secretary of the BCCI welcomed the initiative and committed to its promotion among companies from the Burgas region. They were informed in more detail about the Pavilion and the campaign by watching the report of the Bulgarian National Television, which you can find here – https://bntnews.bg/news/balgarski-pavilion-za-zemedelski-produkti-hrani-i-kozmetika-v-kitai-1284531news.html

We remind you that the application forms for the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture can be found on these links:

Application form for individuals: https://show.forms.app/apaccceec/academy-bg-individual

Application form for legal entities: https://show.forms.app/apaccceec/academy-bg-individual-1