The first UniCredit business center opens in Sofia, available to Italian companies that want to expand the boundaries of their markets and enter Bulgaria and the Balkan countries. The UniCredit International Center, this is the name of the structure inaugurated today, will be a hub intended to provide support to UniCredit customers who carry out business activities in the country. It is configured as a "temporary office" equipped with spaces and facilities for companies wishing to internationalize in Bulgaria. The creation of the UniCredit International Center is in fact one of the stages of the project to support the internationalization of Italian companies which represents the concrete commitment made two years ago by the bank to accompany their growth.
The initiative leverages the uniqueness of the UniCredit network in the world, an international network distributed in 50 countries, 17 of which have a commercial bank rooted in the area. In Bulgaria the institute is present with UniCredit Bulbank. The Balkan countries in general and Bulgaria in particular represent an area of natural interest for Italian entrepreneurship - especially for SMEs - thanks to their geographical location and a series of advantages. The country, a member of the European Union, represents a natural crossroads of business opportunities. The predominant economic sectors for Italian companies are those of Construction, Textiles, Energy. With a GDP of about 40 billion euros and limited inflation, Bulgaria will have more than 14 billion euros in EU funds until 2020.
In the World Competitiveness Index of the World Economic Forum it ranks 54th (54/148), while in the index of ease of doing business in 2013 it occupies 58th position out of 189 countries. Among the competitive advantages, in addition to the stability of the exchange rate, linked to the euro, there is a facilitated taxation and a competitive cost of labour, even for skilled jobs. Italy is today one of the main trading partners of all the countries of South-Eastern Europe. During 2013, Italian exports to that area reached 13,6 billion euros, a value higher than that generated in the same period by exports to China or to India and Brazil combined. Italian companies currently present in Bulgaria are more than 1.000, while trade with Italy - the country's third trading partner - is 4,2 billion euros.
The Italian share of exports (ie how much Italy exports compared to the total Bulgarian imports) is over 7%, a value more than double compared to the presence of Made in Italy in the world. UniCredit Bulbank is the leading bank in the country, with a market share of around 15%, has a strong territorial presence (over 200 branches) and is the leader in corporate banking across the entire range of financial solutions to support businesses. UniCredit Bulbank serves 1860 international companies, of which 580 are Italian that have internationalized in the country. The UniCredit International Center - in addition to providing logistical facilities - will organize Business to Business networking opportunities, sector-themed events, co-marketing initiatives that will complement the skills of UniCredit specialists in consultancy, legal and tax support in setting up companies and building relationships with local authorities.
