Bulgaria

In an interview for Pari Daily, Filip Genov, executive manager of UniCredit Factoring, speaks on the recent developments, trends and events on the local factoring market.

Experian, the global information services company, has announced that it has opened a new international operations centre in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Emporiki Bank Bulgaria plans to double its network to 40 branches and four business centres targeting  SMEs, and to raise its capital by 20m and expand its retail business by the end of next year.

French credit insurance agency Coface said Bulgaria's country risk has deteriorated over the last year.

Agriculture is the riskiest sector in Bulgaria, as 22.5% of all the bankruptcies in 2007 are in that sector.

Greek banking group EFG Eurobank Ergasias said on Tuesday it concluded the merger of its two Bulgarian units.

Microsoft presented its European Union Grants Advisor programme in Varna aimed at informing SMEs of the opportunities to apply for EU funding.

A recent survey of Kofas Bulgaria reveals that bankruptcy rates have been most buoyant in the agriculture and forestry sector in H1.

UniCredit Factoring expects that its capital would grow over BGN 500m by the end of 2007.

EBRD have announced it would lend the Bulgarian arm of Greek banking group Piraeus €35m under four credit lines.