In accordance with the Go International (GoInt) project, implemented under the Interreg „Greece-Bulgaria“ 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation program, in partnership with the German-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Greek-Italian Chamber of Commerce, the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BSMEPA) is organizing the participation of 3 Bulgarian SMEs from the food and flavor industry at the specialized exhibition Agro Mashov 2022, which will take place on September 5 and 6, 2022, in Jerusalem, State of Israel. Alongside the stand participation, the Agency is arranging the participation of 7 Bulgarian SMEs from the food and flavor industry in a Trade Mission with a visit to the Agro Mashov 2022 exhibition in Jerusalem. Invitations are extended to 3 Bulgarian SMEs for stand participation and 7 Bulgarian SMEs for the trade mission, representing producers of fresh and greenhouse products, fruits, vegetables, prepared and preserved foods and beverages, wines, meats, dairy products, poultry and fish meats, and products.

AgroMashov is one of the largest exhibitions for agricultural goods and food products in the State of Israel. This year, its 31st edition will take place over two days – September 5 and 6 – in Jerusalem. AgroMashov provides an opportunity for producers and traders to showcase fresh and greenhouse products, fruits, vegetables, prepared and preserved foods and beverages, wines, meats, dairy products, poultry and fish meats, agricultural technologies, and more.

For stand participation, BSMEPA covers expenses for:

• Rental of exhibition space;
• Design and construction of the stand;
• Equipment and furnishings of the exhibition area;
• Registration of exhibitors;
• Services, consumables, and other within the approved budget.

Firms approved for participation must bear all other costs, including:

• Transport and handling of exhibits and other exhibition components;
• Travel and accommodation for the company representative(s) (travel, daily allowance, lodging);
• Insurance for exhibits during transportation and the exhibition;
• Insurance for company representatives.

For participation in the trade mission, BSMEPA covers all expenses related to transportation (plane, train, bus); transfers and internal transport; and hotel accommodation for one company representative.

Firms participating in the trade mission are responsible for their daily expenses, medical insurance, and other personal costs related to the representation.

The participation of Bulgarian enterprises in international fairs/specialized exhibitions and trade missions constitutes minimal aid within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No. 1407/2013 on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid. Information about the de minimis aid provided to your company can be obtained at http://minimis.minfin.bg/ReportBulstat.aspx.

Applications for participation in both events are to be submitted in accordance with the Rules for Participation in Trade Missions in the State of Israel and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as well as participation in the stand in the State of Israel, organized by BSMEPA, attached to this invitation.

Eligible for participation are all enterprises as defined in §1, item 1 of the Additional Provisions of the Law on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which meet the criteria for micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises under Article 3 and Article 4 of the SME Law and do not fall under the prohibitive regimes of Regulation (EC) No. 1407/2013 of the European Commission of December 18, 2013, concerning the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid, have no public obligations to the state under Article 162, paragraph 2, item 1 of the Tax and Social Insurance Procedure Code (TSIPC), and operate in the food and flavor sector.

Any Bulgarian enterprise wishing to apply for participation must meet the above-mentioned eligibility criteria and submit the following mandatory documents:

• Application for stand participation, signed by the representative of the enterprise (Annex №1) or Application for participation in the trade mission, signed by the representative of the enterprise (Annex №1a);
• Declaration of circumstances under Article 3 and Article 4 of the SME Law for the previous completed financial year (Annex №2), signed by the representative of the enterprise. When the enterprise is affiliated and/or a partner enterprise, a summary report (Annex №2.1) of the parameters of the enterprise is also provided with the declaration. The report should contain information about each of the affiliated enterprises and/or partner enterprise;
• Participation Agreement for the stand, signed by the representative of the enterprise, provided in 2 original copies (Annex №3) or Participation Agreement for the trade mission, signed by the representative of the enterprise, provided in 2 original copies (Annex №3a);
• Package of documents related to Regulation (EU) No. 2016/679 of April 27, 2016, on the processing of personal data within BSMEPA (GDPR) (Annex №4).

BSMEPA concludes a participation agreement with the first 3 ranked and approved enterprises for stand participation, and with the first 7 ranked and approved enterprises for participation in the trade mission. The agreement enters into force from the date of signing by both parties and the registration number provided by BSMEPA.

Interested enterprises should submit the completed application documents to BSMEPA’s registry or send them by courier no later than 5:00 PM on July 29, 2022, to the address: Sofia, 2-4 „Lege“ Str., or electronically signed with a qualified electronic signature (QES) on www.b2bconnect.bg, on the event page, by 5:00 PM on July 29, 2022. Documents submitted to BSMEPA’s registry after the application deadline will not be considered. For documents submitted by mail or courier, the date of the incoming registration number at BSMEPA’s registry is valid. For additional information, you can contact Nikolina Georgieva at tel: 02/ 940 79 77.

Attachments:

• Rules for Participation in Trade Missions in the State of Israel and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as well as participation in the stand in the State of Israel, organized by BSMEPA;
• Application for participation, signed by the representative (Annex №1 and Annex №1a);
• Declaration of circumstances under Article 3 and Article 4 of the SME Law (Annex №2) and Guidelines for completing the declaration; Summary report of the parameters of the enterprise (Annex №2.1);
• Participation Agreement (Annex №3 and Annex №3a);
• Package of documents related to Regulation (EU) No. 2016/679 of April 27, 2016, on the processing of personal data within BSMEPA (GDPR) (Annex №4).