First national competition for "great small" companies held in Bulgaria

The award ceremony of the first Bulgarian national competition for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) "The Great Small" was held here on Tuesday afternoon.

The competition, organized by the local media giant Newspaper Group Bulgaria with partners such as the Ministry of Economy and Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency, attracted 170 companies.

To win one of the 15 identical prizes, free advertising worth 10,000 BGN (some 5,752 U.S. dollars), they had to prove that their small business is "great" based on criteria such as sustainability, innovation, and social contribution.

Manufacturers of power supply systems, orthopedic seats, beer, naturally carbonated water, and providers of services like therapy for smoking cessation were among the companies awarded in the presence of the country's president Rosen Plevneliev and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev.

However, the jury mostly liked the companies RAD-MAR, a producer of dairy products and bio walnuts, and ZEAZOO which makes children's shoes closest to barefoot walking.

"The small businesses are the Great in the Bulgarian economy because they create 70 percent of the jobs in the country, open perspectives in the regions, and put their heart behind everything they do," Plevneliev said.

"This competition confirms that it is worth to work, do your best, make efforts and achieve success," Donchev said.

According to the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, the number of SMEs in the country in 2013 was more than 300,000, which represents 99.8 percent of all enterprises. Endit