• The Board of the BBL at the Opening
  • H.E.The Ambassador of Belgium to Bulgaria, Mr François Bontemps, welcoming speach
  • Jury and contestants at the PIP award ceremony
  • BBL's President, Mrs Rostislava Pavlova, thanking the jury
  • AWEX table at the Gala dinner
  • AWEX invitees at the Gala dinner

The Belgian Days 2019: to be remembered.24/10/2019

The Belgian Days in Sofia has just ended. This special edition celebrates the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Bulgaria.

We all know from Cicero that “History is the teacher of life”, but there was more in the program – a lot of business networking and of course, excellent Belgian food!

The Belgian Days – a tradition that started back in 2006, are now a significant part of the Belgium-Bulgaria relations that encourages links and exchanges between the two countries in business, culture and cuisine.

The Days are organized annually by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Sofia and the Belgium-Bulgaria-Luxembourg Business Club (BBL).

 

Looking back at this great week with lots of FUN, good FOOD & HISTORY, as this year’s moto proclaims it, the events were traditionally dominated by the good will spirit and accentuating the prosperous Belgium-Bulgaria relations.

 

It all started by the official opening on Thursday, 10/10 at ‘Kvadrat 500’ in the National Gallery. There was a private guided tour through selected parts of the gallery, focusing on European and Bulgarian Art from the 1960’s to the 1980’s, including work from the Belgian artist Roger Somville.

An exquisite performance by the Arbanassi Chamber Orchestra added spirit to the evening! A cocktail with a Belgian touch sparked the audience.

The Orchestra gave a full concert the following day at the National Radio.

 

On Monday, 14/10, the well-established business award competition PRIMUS INTER PARES welcomed successful stories that speak of innovation, resilience and long-term results, and at the end of the day ones that transform the thriving environment for doing business in Bulgaria.

The award organized within the framework of the Belgian Days under the wings of the Belgian Embassy in Bulgaria and the Belgian-Bulgarian-Luxembourg business club turns 10 years of age this year. Winners have included trendsetters in various sectors such as Solvay Sodi, Melexis, BulAvto and Designboard to name but a few. Belgian companies, members of BBL, are writing history in Bulgaria and aim to continue doing so going forward. The agenda of the event not only included the special participation of emblematic names in the business field, but also suggested extraordinary business prizes for the winners: LEGO Serious Play Company training for soft skills as 1st prize, 2 Entrance tickets for DigiTalk forum as 2nd prize and 1 day TESLA Test Drive as 3rd prize. This year’s race was won by Solvay Sodi, followed by Puratos and UBB. The pitches in front of a prestigious jury (headed by H.E. François Bontemps, Ambassador of Belgium in Bulgaria) and the awarding ceremony took place at Kino Kultura Art Space. Mr. Krassen Stanchev, founder of the Institute for Marketing Economics and lecturer at Sofia University, delivered a keynote speech about the future of business/economy and potential important game changers. The title of his speech: "Bulgaria: what exists is possible". A networking cocktail wreathed the evening.

 

The festivities were ended up by the Belgian Gala Dinner which took place in the Military Club on Friday, 18/10 last.