Government aid seeks to boost employment opportunities
The Ministry of Social Affairs has announced a new program, known as New Skills, offering more than 74 million levs to businesses for employee training, reskilling, and skill development under the Human Resources Development initiative.
Employers can apply for funding ranging from 20,000 levs to 5.87 million levs, with co-financing requirements varying by company size-50% for large enterprises, 40% for medium, and 30% for small ones. Applications are open until March 5, 2024, and budget-funded organizations are excluded from the program. Employers with projects involving employees with disabilities or in disadvantaged situations receive a 10% reduction in required co-financing.
SiteGround snaps up Sofia's historic House of Strawberries
On a quiet morning along Sofia's lively San Stefano Street, eight affluent Bulgarians and two European investors discreetly viewed the crumbling yet iconic House of Strawberries. This early 20th-century architectural gem, located near Doctor's Garden and Zaimov Park, had long stood in disrepair. Last Friday, the property changed hands for 8 million euro, marking the end of its 12-year ownership by Valentin Zlatev, former director of Lukoil Bulgaria.
The buyers, Bulgarian IT entrepreneurs Tenko Nikolov and Ivo Tsenov, acquired the property through their company Rial Site, part of SiteGround. The house, a 100-year-old Secession-style building with Art Deco elements, is a cultural monument of local importance. Known for its 236 sq.m. footprint, spacious garden, and distinctive strawberry plants, it highlights Sofia's challenges in preserving its architectural heritage amid increasing public protests for conservation.
IBEX purchases new HQ in Sofia
The Bulgarian Independent Energy Exchange (IBEX) has purchased the former UBB headquarters on Sveta Sofia Street for 6 million euro, exceeding the starting bid of 4 million euro. The 2,870 sq.m. building is likely to house IBEX and its parent company, optimizing costs and improving operational efficiency. With strong financial reserves exceeding 30 million levs, IBEX had no issues funding the acquisition. The exchange has thrived during the energy market boom, reporting a net profit of 13.6 million levs in 2022, boosting BSE's stock prices by 44% in the last year.
Government aid seeks to boost employment opportunities
The Ministry of Social Affairs has announced a new program, known as New Skills, offering more than 74 million levs to businesses for employee training, reskilling, and skill development under the Human Resources Development initiative.
