Business trip to Sofia, Bulgaria.
Sofia is the uppermost center of Bulgaria’s economic and commercial life, more and more attracting attention as an outsourcing location for Western European and American multinationals. The city is also the headquarters for major Bulgarian and international companies operating in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe.
The capital is also the hometown for several trade fairs held in the country. Sofia organizes and hosts number of international business events every year in its well infrastructured venues like Inter Expo & Congress Center, National Palace of Culture and Festivalna Hall. Some of the renowned events of the city are Flora Bulgaria, Expolight Bulgaria and Immobilia Bulgaria.
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The manufacturing sector of the city’s economy is represented by over 800 large manufacturing plants including metal products, which provides 75% of the total output in the country, textiles, rubber and leather goods, printing and electronics.
Also the financial center of the country, Sofia is base to Bulgarian National Bank, Bulgarian Stock Exchange and also some of the country’s largest commercial banks such as HVB Bank Biochim, Bulbank, DSK Bank and United Bulgarian Bank.
Other important sectors of the city are construction, trade and transport. The construction industry has exploded with new construction sites emerging everywhere around Sofia.
With the fall of communism in the country, several major international companies, previously not present, have moved in Bulgaria and the larger part of them are in Sofia. The real estate market in the city has skyrocketed as well in recent years.
For more in-depth information I suggest you buy and read the "Global Business Etiquettes" book.
- Communication:
Use formal names and academic titles.
If you ask a question and not getting direct answer try asking the question in different ways.
Dress formal and conservative. - Meetings and negotiations:
Be very punctual, if you suspect you will late, call and explain the situation.
When making appointments use the 24-hour clock time format to avoid misunderstandings.
Never cancel a meeting at the last minute.
Remain standing until invited to sit down or others do so.
Some time is spent to getting to know you before the business conversation begins.
Agenda’s are not strictly followed and a meeting can take much longer then planned.
First appointments are more socially oriented, Bulgarian’s would like to know you a bit better at first.
Keep your presentation as short as possible, to the point, accurate and precise, do not exaggerate.
Follow up a meeting with a letter with all agreements outlined. - Table manners:
Wait until you are appointed a seat.
Avoid alcohol if possible, otherwise drink little. Remember: an empty glass will be refilled.
If making a toast, stand up.
Put a napkin on your lap.
You are expected to eat seconds, so use small portions.
Keep your hands above the table when eating.
After finishing your plate lay your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the handles to the right.
Thank your host at the end of the meal.
In the years after joining the European Union (EU), Bulgaria has gotten in the picture for many international firms for investments and business opportunities. The country enjoys political stability and steady economic growth. The Bulgarian Government introduced the lowest tax rates in the region, a ten percent rate both on personal income and on corporate income, which contributed to strong foreign investment inflows. The global financial crisis has slowed investment growth, particularly in the real estate and manufacturing sectors.
International companies are successfully conducting business across the major industry sectors. registered numerous successes in many sectors of the economy. EU membership will bring funding for infrastructure projects provided that the Bulgarian government is efficient and transparent. Bulgaria is also an excellent launching pad for sales into the European Union, Russia, Turkey and the Middle East.
Bulgaria boasts a talented labor force, has one of the lowest wage rates in EU, and a convenient geographical location. EU membership offers additional opportunities as Structural and Cohesion funds are funding major infrastructure projects.
Some facts in a list:| Currency | Lev (1 EUR = 1,96 Lev) |
| Time zone | GMT +2 |
| Population | 7.204.687 |
| Area | 110.910 sq km |
| Population density | 65 / sq km |
| GDP | € 63.780.000.000 |
| GDP/per capita | € 8.775 |
  | Product tip: There are also nice looking laptop bags on the market! A laptop bag doesn’t have to be a dull conservative black bag. There are lot’s of great looking bags on the market these days. Special laptop bags with the protection that is needed for your laptop but also with nice designs in models and materials. |
The international airport in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia was completely renovated in 2006.
Address
Sofia Airport
1 Christopher Columbus Boulevard
1540 Sofia,Bulgaria
Telephone: +359(0)2 937 2211/2
Fax: +359(0)2 937 2010
Email: public@sofia-airport.bg
www.sofia-airport.bg
Airport codes
IATA airport code: SOF
ICAO airport code: LBSF
Lost property
The “Lost & Found” office extends its services for all cases when:
- A claim is to be registered for a damaged or missing passenger baggage;
- Tracing of missing baggages. Tracing is carried out for the first 5 days after the day of arrival of the passenger.
- The file is then handed over to the corresponding airline. The airline will further proceed with reimbursing the passenger.
You can contact the Lost and Found Department on telephone number (+3592) 937 3554.
Terminal info
Connectivity from Sophia Airport
There is no train connection with the Sofia airport.
Taxi
Taxis are in front of the Arrivals Hall. The airport has done many things to keep away fraudulent taxi drivers. It is recommended, using OK Supertrans (tel: + 359(0)2 973 2121), this company has a window in the Arrivals Hall. A ride to the center of Sofia costs BGN 10.00.
Keep the following tips in mind if you need to order a taxi during your business trip to Sofia.
When you are in need of a taxi, ask somebody from the hotel, or waiters in the restaurant or anybody local to call for a taxi and to explain to the driver where you want to go. Be prepared to pay cash (you can not pay by credit car taxi fees) and have small change (5, 10 or no more than 20 BGN bills), because taxi drivers always have no change. It is practice to round the fee, for example 2,30 BGN is rounded to 3.00 BGN.
| Company name | Phone number |
| Niki99 | 502406 |
| Softaxi | 91404 |
| Taxi C Express | 91280 |
| Yes & Yellow | 91119 |
| Rosat Taxi | 91007 |
Jardin Garden
A well designed modern restaurant with a good menu. If you are on a business trip to Sofia, this is a great restaurant for entertaining your hosts.
1680 Sofia
16, Nevestina skala Str.
+359 2 8 199 191
(No website available)
Continental Plaza Restaurant
Restaurant in a very classic design with a perfect kitchen.
Sofia, Bulgaria
National Palace of Culture
1, Bulgaria Square
tel.: +3592/ 951 54 30
continentalplaza-bg.com
Tambuktu
The best fish restaurant in Sofia.
10 Ivan Aksakov Str.
Sofia
+359 2 988 1234
(No website available)
Tips to save money on hotel costs during your business trip to Sofia.
To get the best price for a good hotel room during your business trip to Sofia it's not only important to compare the prices the hotel charges for a room, but also compare the prices of the different booking agencies.
This can save you, or your company, a lot of money!
- Go to this hotel listing for Sofia.
- Select the "Check-in" and "Check-out" date.
- Select filters like: "Hotel brand", "Ratings", "Location" and "Price ranges".
- Select the hotel you like.
- You will get an overview of the prices from up to 24 booking sites
- Select the best offer in the list and book the room!
We have selected the following established business hotels for your convenience:
Hilton Sofia Bulgaria
With 245 rooms on 8 floors, equipped with the most modern in-room facilities, 2 Executive Floors, the Executive Lounge, Business Centre, Health Club with swimming pool, Hilton Sofia is the perfect choice of the modern traveler, visiting Sofia, Bulgaria for business or pleasure. Just a 5-minute walk is downtown Sofia with charming sights, wonderful shops and business life which is very convenient during a busy business trip.
1, Bulgaria blvd.
Sofia, BG 1421
Tel: 359-2-9335000
More info about Hilton Hotel Sofia
Best Western City Hotel
The Hotel offers an excellent location in downtown Sofia, only 200 meters from the National Assembly. Best Western City Hotel offers excellent services for both leisure and business travelers as well as for your organization conference or seminar.
6 Stara planina Str.
Sofia 1000
Tel:+359 2 915 1500
More info about Best Western City Hotel
Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan
Archways of ceiling-high columns, distinctly constructed doors and moldings, and imported Italian marble floors outline the lobby of the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan. Located in the heart of Sofia, Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan is ideally situated just a stroll from the business and commercial district.
5 Sveta Nedelya Square
Sofia 1000
Phone: (359)(2) 9816541
More info about Sheraton Hotel Balkan Sofia
There are many places in Sofia where you can buy warm, just baked bread and tasty snacks. But The Central Hali* (Tzentralni Hali) are the best place that you can do it. When you have some spare time to go shopping, you should really visit the Centralni Hali. It’s a wonderful place to spend an hour or two, shopping delicious food or presents, or just sitting in the café, watching the people or talk with friends.
The Hali (as the people from Sofia are calling them) are a pleasant place combining an old building and modern trade centre in one.
The Central Hali Building
About 100 years ago Sofia’s Central Hali were opened. They were built in 1911. The architect of the building was chosen Naum Torbov (1880 – 1952) after a competition for building the construction, written out by the municipality. It took 2 years to be built. The Hali were the first covered market in Bulgaria. Around them there were the European neighborhoods. Their design being based on the central market of Paris, called Les Halles.
The Old Clock in Central Hali Sofia
The style of the building is Neo-Renaissance, featuring also elements of Neo-Byzantine architecture and Neo-Baroque. The market was re-opened after restoration on May 30, 2000 by the ex-mayor of Sofia - Stefan Sofiyanski. The attraction of the Hali is an old clock. It was made in 1914. It has been installed in the tower on the building in 1915 and stayed there until the re-construction of the Hali. The clock is put in motion by weight, which is wind up automatically from an electric motor, supplied by 8 batteries. The count out of the hours and quarters is sound tracked by bronze bells. The mechanism was reconstructed in 2000 by Master Todor Todorov.
There are three entries- from the side of the Maria Louisa Blvd (where are the stops of the public transport), from the side of the parking and from the side of George Washington Str.
The Central Hali Sofia
The building was originally constructed with four entrances. Over the entry from the side of the boulevard you can see the emblem of Sofia. Over it there is a small clock tower. The Hali covers 7200 square meters that are distributed on 3 floors.On the ground floor you can buy for your meal warm bread, fresh fish products and all sorts of cheese and exotic fruits for dessert. You can buy flowers and candles for the table, beautiful table-cloths and furniture. If you don’t have time for cooking you can always buy some baked Bulgarian food from the Trops House, situated in the subterranean level (there is a baked Bulgarian cuisine in the ground and second floor too).
Here you can also view some of the Roman remnants of Serdika (the old name of Sofia). On this floor there are a Mobiltel shop and stores for clothes and accessories. On the second floor you can find different shops-from expensive cosmetics to posh leather clothing. There are also a bank and a postal service.
When you enter the Hali, you will smell essence of warm bread, pinch of flowers and some drops of perfume. All of these help this modern centre to be declared the best market in Sofia. Nowadays, The Central Hali are a favorite place for shopping for the citizens of the capital.
Working time: every day from 9:00 a.m. till 19:00 p.m.
Address: 25 Maria Louisa Blvd
Sofia is over 2000 years old and its centre is like a walk-through history lesson, with Romans, Byzantines, Bulgarians, Ottoman Turks and Soviet-inspired communists all having left their architectural imprint. When you have some time left during your business trip and want to get an idea of what shapes Sofia you could visit the following sights:
Built by Russian architects, inspired by the glories of ancient Byzantium, this multi-domed ecclesiastical monster has been Sofia’s visual trademark ever since its completion in 1924. If you have only a short time for sightseeing during your business trip to Sofia, this would be the place to visit.
Boyana Church
If medieval church art has your interest, then the UNESCO-listed Boyana church will have you utmost attention. Just about every square inch of the interior is covered with bible scenes and saintly portraits, rendered by thirteenth century artists.
National Museum of History
Located in a park-shrouded former government palace on the northern side of the Okolovrusten put (Sofia’s main ring road), Bulgaria’s National History Museum offers a highly enjoyable chronological journey through at least eight millennia of human civilization on the Balkan Peninsula.
Make sure your health care insurance is sufficiently covered.
Maybe this is already covered in your regular health care insurance but often you will need to cover this with the travel insurance. Also a good travel insurance should cover the costs of travel for a relative in case of seriously illness or an accident.
The business trip travel insurance should also cover the costs of search, rescue and repatriation.
When you go on business trips on a regular basis, the easiest way to get insured is with an annual multi-trip insurance.
Keep in mind that you can also use this insurance for your pleasure trips so don`t forget to include to insure your leisure activities.
| General emergency number | 112 |
| Police | 166 |
| Ambulance | 150 |
| Fire | 160 |
If there is a real medical emergency and you are in Sofia, call a taxi and ask to be taken to "Pirogov" (the best hospital for emergency cases).
Specialized Hospital for Emergency Medicine “Pirogov”
21 Totleben Blvd
Sofia
phone: 915-4411, 915-4290
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group. Bulgarian is written with the Cyrillic alphabet.
Please note that in Bulgarian body language a head shake means YES and a head nod means NO!
Although in business people speak English, some Bulgarian phrases can always come in hand....
| Good morning! | Dobro utro! |
| Good evening! | Dobar wecher! |
| Welcome! (to greet someone) | Dobre doshal! |
| How are you? | Kak si? |
| I’m fine, thanks! | Dobre,mersi! |
| And you? | A ti? |
| Good/ So-So. | Dobre./ Biva. |
| Thank you (very much)! | Mnogo blagodaria! |
| You’re welcome! | Ti si dobre doshal! |
| Good night! | Leka nosht! |
| Good bye! | Chao. |
| I’m lost | Sagubih se |
| Can I help you? | Moje li da Vi pomogna? |
| Can you help me? | Moje li da mi pomognete? |
| Where is the (bathroom/ pharmacy)? | Kade e (baniata/aptekata)? |
| Go straight! then turn left/ right! | Varvete napravo!Posle savivate na liavo/diasno! |
| I’m looking for John. | Tarsia John. |
| How much is this? | Kolko struva tova? |
| Excuse me ...! (to ask for something) | Isvinete... |
| Excuse me! ( to pass by) | Isvinete moje li... |
| Do you speak (English/ Bulgarian)? | Govorite li (angliiski/ balgarski)? |
| Just a little. | Malko. |
| What’s your name? | Kaks se kaswate? |
| My name is ... | as se kasvam... |
| Mr.../ Mrs.…/ Miss… | Gospodin/ gospoja/ gospojitsa |
| Nice to meet you! | Priatno mi e da se saposnaem! |
| Bulgaria is a wonderful country | Balgaria e welikolepna strana. |
| I’m Sorry! (if you don’t hear something) | Sa sajelenie ne vi chuh. |
| Sorry (for a mistake) | Sajaliavam. |
| No Problem! | Niama nikakav problem. |
| Write It Down Please! | Molia sapishete. |
| I Don’t Understand! | Nishto ne rasbrah. |
| Yes/ No | Da/ ne |
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I would like to establish a company in Bulgaria.I hope to see bright business rays in bulgaria furthr future.
Regards,
M.Naveed Akhtar