In implementation of the Go International (GoInt) project, carried out under the Interreg cross-border cooperation program „Greece-Bulgaria“ 2014-2020, in partnership with the German-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Greek-Italian Chamber of Commerce, the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) is organizing the participation of 5 Bulgarian SMEs from the agro-food industry in a Trade Mission to attend the Vietnam FoodExpo 2022 exhibition and hold bilateral meetings in Ho Chi Minh City, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Invited to participate in the trade mission are 5 Bulgarian SMEs with a sectoral focus on „Agro-Food,“ particularly companies engaged in the production and processing of agricultural and food products, including ready-to-eat and canned foods and beverages, organic products, sunflower oil, traditional dairy products, traditional pasta products, natural juices, seeds, wine, nuts, gourmet products/spices, confectionery products, etc.

Vietnam Foodexpo is the most comprehensive event in the agro-food industry in the region. It serves as a reliable platform for exploration and trade for prestigious international importers, leading distributors in Vietnam and the world, and highlights the latest advancements in food, beverages, and processing technologies. Leading exhibitors will showcase their products and services.

The first edition of Vietnam FoodExpo took place in Ho Chi Minh City in May 2015 and was met with unprecedented success. With over 10,000 trade visitors from 33 countries and regions, the event demonstrated a high level of professionalism in its domain. Featuring more than 300 exhibitors and 500 booths from 36 provinces and cities in Vietnam and 19 countries, the exhibition covers an area of 10,000 square meters within the largest and most modern exhibition/congress center in South Vietnam.

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

Participating companies are responsible for their daily expenses, medical insurance, and other personal costs related to the mission.

The participation of Bulgarian companies in international fairs/specialized exhibitions and trade missions constitutes minimal assistance 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 link.

To apply for participation in the two events, companies must follow the Rules for Participation in Trade Missions in the State of Israel and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as well as participation in a booth in the State of Israel, organized by BSMEPA, attached to this invitation.

All companies falling under the definition in §1, item 1 of the Additional Provisions of the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Act (SMEA) that meet the criteria for micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises under Art. 3 and Art. 4 of SMEA and do not fall under the prohibitive regimes of Regulation (EC) No. 1407/2013 of the European Commission dated December 18, 2013, regarding the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to de minimis aid, and do not have public obligations to the state under Art. 162, para. 2, item 1 of the Tax and Social Security Procedure Code (TSSPC) and operate in the agro-food sector, have the right to participate.

Every Bulgarian company wishing to apply for participation must meet the aforementioned eligibility criteria and submit the following mandatory documents:

1. Application for participation in the trade mission, signed by the company’s representative (Appendix No. 1);
2. Declaration of circumstances under Art. 3 and Art. 4 of SMEA for the previous completed financial year (Appendix No. 2), signed by the company’s representative. When the company is affiliated and/or a partner company, an overview report (Appendix No. 2.1) of the company’s aggregated parameters should also be provided. The overview report should contain information about each affiliated and/or partner company;
3. Contract for participation in the trade mission, signed by the company’s representative, provided in 2 original copies (Appendix No. 3);
4. Package of documents related to Regulation (EU) No. 2016/679 of April 27, 2016, on the processing of personal data within BSMEPA (GDPR) (Appendix No. 4).

BSMEPA enters into a contract for participation in the trade mission with the first 5 ranked and approved companies. The contract comes into effect on the date of signing by both parties and upon the registration number being assigned by BSMEPA.

Interested companies should submit the completed application documents to BSMEPA’s registry or send them by courier by October 14, 2022, until 5:00 PM, to the following address: Sofia, „Lege“ Str. No. 2-4 or electronically, signed with a qualified electronic signature (QES) on www.b2bconnect.bg, on the event page, by 5:00 PM on October 14, 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, please contact Svetla Zapryanova, email: S.Zapryanova@sme.government.bg, tel: 02/ 940 79 75.