ERDF PP4 BULGARIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BULGARIA The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry /BCCI/ is a nationally represented horizontal non-profit private NGO with about 53 000 associated and direct members, registered in the Trade Register at the Chamber. The BCCI is a part of the integrated international network of chambers of commerce throughout the world, maintaining direct contacts with 200 chambers. With all these organizations the BCCI develops various joint activities and events. Through its international contacts and memberships, the BCCI represents the interests of its members and of the Bulgarian business circles at international level. BCCI activities and provided services cover the whole geographical territory of Bulgaria through the nationally represented membership, on the one hand, and through the network of 28 regional chambers of commerce and industry, incorporated in a nationally represented structure, on the other. Its priorities concern the representation and advocacy of the interests of its member companies and of the business circles and entrepreneurs in the country. Business training, promotion and support of entrepreneurship initiatives are priority activities of the BCCI and of the 28 RCsCI. The Chamber organizes regularly various forms of business forums - business meetings, business missions abroad, business cooperation and match-making events, etc. in various economic sectors and industrial branches. The BCCI dedicates much effort to the creation of more favourable business environment in the country. The Bulgarian Pilot Project regarding the SAGITTARIUS initiative aims at promoting the Bulgarian cultural heritage through modern technologies and interactive audiovisual effects and electronic means. The rationale is to present to entrepreneurs and general public in a modern and attractive way the cultural and historical values and new possibilities for investments in the tourism business. The project is relevant for both regional and national development as this initiative makes Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage more popular, accessible and attractive with national and even international value to both stakeholders and audience. This is a modern means of drawing attention towards unique artefacts of the Bulgarian history in particular and the human civilization as a whole, and to induce more knowledge and business initiatives among young people. In regards to the use of new technology and social media in the project for easier presentation of the results, BCCI in particular is responsible for the creation of the Roving
Museum mobile application and the interactive educational games on the base of the huge cultural heritage in Southeast Europe. To promote entrepreneurial culture in the cultural heritage sector, BCCI actions encourage the formation of heritage entrepreneurs. BCCI provided interested parties with the project domain specific training which shall certify individuals with increased capacity of professional skills. Implemented pilot actions by BCCI on a social inclusion basis provide for cultural experience diversity thus connecting local cultural production to international markets. The aim to encourage entrepreneurship at transnational level shall exemplify how heritage is valued, protected, communicated and used with ecologic, economic and social profit. Involving and engaging young audiences into caring for heritage is one of the main aims of the SAGITTARIUS project. To realise this aim, BCCI included a group of students of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” who have taken active role. BCCI has introduced young audiences to cultural values and actively involved them in onsite heritage planning actions, offering platforms for their skills and creativity. Young students have participated in a survey for the evaluation of cultural heritage objects, included in the Pilot Project of Bulgaria, thus providing them with the opportunity to give their opinion and recommendations regarding the way cultural and historical heritage has been promoted with the objective to create novel concept for utilization of cultural values and resources paving the way for entrepreneurial innovation.
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