In November 2012 was established the Bulgarian Outsourcing Association with Stefan Bumov as its chairman. The association was formed with the aim to unify the interests of the companies that offer outsourcing services and to offer better conditions for the international companies that are willing to make investments in Bulgaria. The companies that could outsource their businesses to Bulgaria work in the spheres of IT services, pharmacy, telecommunications, insurance finance, and even tourism. All international companies that are willing to open offices in Sofia or to outsource part of their activities in the Bulgarian capital are in demand for modern offices and pleasant working environment. These companies require central location or location near public transport, easy access and good infrastructure, excellent facilities and many extras. When the working conditions are good, the companies are reducing their monthly expenses and are provoking the interest of the job applicants, while at the same time are keeping the current employees.
According to Chairman Stefan Bumov, Bulgaria is quite appealing to the outsourcing companies due to its strategic location, the proximity to large European countries and the educated professionals with knowledge of English and other foreign languages. Bulgaria further offers good microeconomic and political situation, which turns the country into a stable destination for the outsourcing companies.
The president of the European Commission gave an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio in the middle of September, where he declared his support for Bulgaria to join the Schengen agreement zone. Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso said that Bulgaria should be given the opportunity and should become a member of the travel-free zone as soon as possible. The interview was provoked by the news that Great Britain plans to end the seasonal jobs it was offering to Bulgarians. According to the president of the European Commission, there should be a free movement of people in all member states of the European Union without any conditions to be laid.
Mr. Boroso put a stress on the fact that he wants all Bulgarians to know that the European Commission will support those who are willing to face a strong and united Europe. He declared that he will do everything necessary for the people from all member states of the union to feel that they have the same status. The president of the European Commission further stated that Europe respects all the democratic movements in Bulgaria including the protests against the government that lasts for three months already.
The large international companies that are entering the market in the capital of Bulgaria have certain requirements that concern the office premises in Sofia. In general the big international companies have demands on the type of the furniture and equipment in each of their offices. These companies have excellent reputation and have the status of good employers. That is why they do everything necessary to guarantee a comfortable and adequate working environment. Such an environment is expected to guarantee good results and an effective working process. That is why these companies that want to set such standards of office environment in Sofia are looking to buy or rent offices of the highest class A, with excellent standards of office equipment and facilities including open space premises, sports halls, recreation zones, café and a large terrace, as well as perfectly organized conference and presentation zones, plus parking area and zone for bicycles, as well as access for disable clients and employees. Another important issue is security of the office premises and the easy access. The modern office buildings in Sofia offer special cards for the access.
The international companies that are starting their business in Bulgaria are looking for employees with proven professional qualities and excellent personal characteristics. There is a demand for well-educated and trained employees. In general Bulgaria and especially Sofia are attractive outsourcing destination for the companies in the IT sector, financial, technical and bank services.
In a recent interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, the president of the European Commission declared that Bulgaria and Romania should be allowed to enter the passport free travel zone of the Schengen agreement. According to Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, Romania and Bulgaria have met all the criteria required to enter the Schengen area and they should be given a chance. According to the president of the European Commission, the free movement of people will be a basic principle when labor markets are concerned in the European Union. Unfortunately, in May this year Romania and Bulgaria were rejected to enter the Schengen agreement after the Netherlands and Germany opposed on the grounds that the two countries are not ready and have issues to arrange such as corruption. Mr. Jose Manuel Barroso, however thinks that there should not be first and second class citizens in Europe and the region will be more strong when it is united.
The Schengen zone is an area of free movement and no internal border controls among the states that are its members. Currently there are twenty-five member states of the Schengen agreement. Four new members are waiting to be accepted in the Schengen area including Bulgaria and Romania, Liechtenstein and Cyprus.
The office market in Sofia is busy and the office premises of the highest class A are on demand. The number of the available offices of that class however is going down. That is why many experts think that Sofia city needs several new office projects with excellent location and modern facilities. Large office premises in Sofia are on demand by banks and international companies which are already part of the Bulgarian market and economic life, but are willing to expand their business and services. Of course, there are some other companies that are new to the market and are now looking to enter it. Many of the companies that are coming to open an office in Sofia are companies that want to outsource their business aiming to reduce their expenses. Currently, the office market in Sofia is driven by such companies that want to outsource part of their business processes and companies from the IT sector.
According to the experts, Bulgaria is appealing to the outsourcing industry mainly thanks to the low rental levels of Sofia offices, the low levels of the wages and the low tax levels. In general, there are many well-qualified employees and good infrastructure as well. Even so, some of the international companies still prefer the office market and options in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The international companies that decide to invest in an office in Sofia are usually looking at the best office buildings in Sofia at the moment including Megapark and Sofia Airport Center, ETC and Serdica Center and Sofia 1.
Bulgaria decided to ask for direct assistance from the European Commission in connection with the Syria refugees situation. According to the Interior Minister in the country Tsvetan Yovchev, the Bulgarian administration will prepare the necessary documents that are required for that. The documents were expected to be prepared by the end of September or the beginning of October. The European Commission, which supports Bulgaria in its application to enter the borderless Schengen zone, is expected to help Bulgaria with the refugees’ situation. The refugees are expected soon to become more than 5% of the Bulgarian population. Without technical and financial help from Europe and the solidarity from the European Commission, Bulgaria will not be able to cope with that situation. According to the minister, the country will ask for some of the refugees to be directed to other countries in the European Union as well.
People in Bulgaria hope that their efforts and help in connection with the refugees will be noticed and appreciated, which will assist the country in its efforts to enter the passport free Schengen zone. Bulgaria went through a long period of applying to enter the Schengen area. Today the country has technical readiness and meets all the requirements, besides Bulgaria has proven that it could be a reliable outer border of the European Union.
In a recent survey organized by leading real estate agencies based in the capital of Bulgaria, it became clear that the offices in Sofia resemble the offices in any European capital. In other words, the Sofia offices have the same qualities and offer the same high level of extras as all other offices in Europe. This declaration is especially valid for the offices which were constructed in the last four or five years, being characterized with excellent features and work conditions, which Bulgaria offers. It comes as no surprise that with the fantastic office premises in Sofia and the well-educated and trained staff, the favorable tax conditions and the low wages, Bulgaria ranks among the favorite outsourcing destinations in Europe for the companies.
The rental levels of Sofia offices are among the lowest in Europe. The offices of class A could be rented for 9 to 12 Euro/sq.m., depending on their location and the size of the rental office in Sofia. Even in a situation of economic crises, there is a tendency among the investors to be more demanding when their tenants are concerned. The investors now are not only looking for three-months rental as a guarantee but asks for guarantee for the branches of the international companies from the main office of the company. The tendency is for the offices of the highest class A to be quickly rented. In 2012 the rented office premises in Sofia were around 96 000 sq.m, while for the first half of 2013 they were 45 000 sq.m. with another 25 000 sq.m. of Sofia office premises to be rented in the near future. In general the second half of the year us more active than the first, which means that the real estate agencies are expecting more offices in Sofia to be rented with the rental peak to be in October.
Norway declared that it is not willing to accept Bulgaria and Romania as new members of the Schengen zone. The passport-free travel area might become a mirage for Bulgaria and Romania since Norway opposed the enlargement of the Schengen agreement. This news came in August, as the two countries were preparing for the discussions in December. However, Romania and Bulgaria are technically ready for their accession. Even so, the Norwegian politicians thing that the Schengen membership should be denied as the visa-free zone will face a higher crime situation. The politicians from Norway understand that the problems are made by the Roma population from Romania and Bulgaria and not by the regular citizens, but still the issue remains.
According to the European Commission, both Bulgaria and Romania are ready to enter the Schengen zone. The two countries have followed all the requirements that were set in order to be accepted in the borderless area. Currently Norway, the Netherlands and some of the other older members of the European Union are not willing to accept Romania and Bulgaria as new members of the Schengen zone. Their position is based on the grounds of corruption, lack of progress that concerns the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism and poor border control.
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