Financing companies located in Bulgaria

Sectors of the Economy eligible for financing:

Production

Enterprises in the manufacturing sector of the economy can apply for the following programs:

Micro enterprises (employing up to 9 people), which operate in a rural community, may apply under Measure 312 “Support for the creation and development of micro enterprises” under the Programme for Rural Development. Costs are funded for construction and repair of production facilities, purchase of machinery and equipment, purchase of vehicles for business, introduction of international standards, consulting costs.

All other production companies can apply for the schemes under the Operational Programme “Competitiveness”. Under the various schemes of the program are funded projects related to technological modernization, energy efficiency, development of technologies for production of electricity from renewable sources for own purposes, introduction of international standards and certification.

All enterprises in the manufacturing sector can apply for funding of projects related to training of staff and projects to improve the working conditions under the schemes of the Operational Programme “Human Resources”.

Services and Trade

If the enterprise is a micro enterprise and operates within a rural community, it can apply under Measure 312 “Support for the creation and development of micro enterprises” under the Programme for Rural Development. Costs are funded for construction and repair of buildings, purchase of equipment, purchase of vehicles for business, introduction of international standards, consulting costs.

All other businesses operating in the services and trade sector have significantly fewer opportunities for funding under European programmes compared to those operating in the manufacturing sector.

Companies can apply for funding for projects related to the implementation of internationally recognized standards under Operational Programme “Competitiveness”.

Renewable Energy Sources

Projects to build power plants for electricity production from renewable energy sources (sun, wind, water) are financed under Measure 311 “Diversification into non-agricultural activities” and Measure 312 “Support for the creation and development of micro enterprises” under Programme for Rural Development. Funded are projects to build solar, wind and hydro power up to 1 MW, operating on the territory of a rural community.

Beneficiaries under Measure 312 are newly created or existing micro enterprises, based in a rural community.

Rural Tourism

Projects for rural/alternative tourism are funded under Measure 311 and Measure 312 under Programme for Rural Development. Projects are funded for construction or expansion of tourist attractions – guest houses, villas, hotels, motels – up to 20 units, restaurants. Projects must take place within the rural community. Financed are construction costs, purchase of equipment, furniture, vehicles for business, introduction of international standards, consulting costs.

Beneficiaries under Measure 312 are newly created or existing micro enterprises, based in a rural community.

Processing of agricultural and forestry products

Existing or new enterprises, processing agricultural products and micro enterprises (employing up to 9 persons) processing forest products, can apply for funding under Measure 123 “Adding value to agricultural and forestry products” under Programme for Rural Development. Eligible for financing are construction costs, purchase of machinery and equipment, energy efficiency, procurement of vehicles, introduction of international standards, consulting and under certain conditions – the purchase of land and buildings.

Sectors of food and forestry production, eligible for funding under Measure 123:

• Milk and milk products
• Meat and meat products
• Fruits and vegetables, including mushrooms
• Honey
• Cereals, milling and starch products
• Vegetable and animal oils and fats
• Technical and medicinal plants including rose oil, herbs and unprocessed tobacco
• Prepared food for livestock
• Grape must, wine and vinegar
• Energy production (electricity and heating) and bio fuels (ethanol, biodiesel) through processing of plant and animal products from primary and secondary biomass
• Primary processing activities associated with the use of wood as raw material, prior to industrial processing, including the production of wood briquettes and pellets.

Agriculture and Livestock

Companies and individuals registered as agricultural producers can apply for funding their activities under Measure 121 “Modernization of agricultural holdings” under Programme for Rural Development. Projects are financed for creating agricultural plantations, purchase of agricultural machinery, equipment for farms, construction costs for farm buildings, consultancy and under certain conditions – the purchase of land.

Companies in the agricultural sector, which plan to develop another type of activity, can get money to start a new business under Measure 311 “Diversification into non-agricultural activities.” The measure funds projects implemented on the territory of a rural community in the field of rural tourism, construction of facilities for the production of electricity from renewable sources, light industry and services.

Innovations

Innovations are a sector of the economy, to which is paid even more attention. Funding is for projects related to development of innovative products and technologies, marketing innovations and implementation in mass production. Several schemes for innovations are provided within the Operational Programme “Competitiveness”. Financed are costs for salaries of staff engaged in the development of innovations, costs for participation in exhibitions, investments for equipment needed to manufacture new products.