On St. Demetrius Day BCC awarded the best construction companies

Svilena Grazhdanska Reneta Nikolova The annual awards for the best companies in the construction sector were given at the traditional ball on Builder’s Day. The event was hosted by Ekaterina Zaharieva, Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Investment Planning and Eng. Svetoslav Glosov, Chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian Construction Chamber (BCC). Among the official guests were Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds Management Iliyana Tsanova, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy responsible for Tourism Branimir Botev, and Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Atanaska Nikolova, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova and her deputies Irina Savina and Lyubomir Hristov, former Minister of Regional Development, now MP of GERB – Lilyana Pavlova, Executive Director of “Metropolitan” EAD Eng. Stoyan Bratoev, Chairman of the Board of Road Infrastructure Agency Eng. Lazar Lazarov, experts of government departments and MPs. The event was held at the Royal Hall of Sofia Hotel Balkan. “Just your guild is the visible, most tangible part for the success of the country and that people in it feel good. In order to have investments, the most important thing is to have a developed infrastructure, cities to have public services, good nurseries, kindergartens, homes, playgrounds, hospitals. So that people remain to live and work here, but at the basis of all that are you – the builders,” said in her address Deputy PM Zaharieva. “Your professional holiday is most dear to my heart. I really hope to have a stable government because it will provide security in the country and this is most important for businesses and investors. I will do everything possible to support the industry, to show that we are your partner. I hope the state will help you, not hinder you. What we are trying with my team to do is to ease the regulations in order to assist you,” said the caretaker deputy prime minister and wished 2015 to be better than the current year for the construction sector. “I hope it will not be zero as 2014 in the absorption of EU funds from the programming period 2014 - 2020. It is very important money from the EU funds to come to you,” Zaharieva added. “By honoring the tradition on 26 October we strike a balance for the outgoing construction year. Unfortunately, it was not easier than the previous one. This time we were confronted not only with the consequences of the financial crisis but also with the problem of suspended payments for operational programs. Nature was not with us either. Disasters befell us. Here I would like to thank all the companies that participated voluntarily and helped the people overcome the damages caused by the cataclysms,” said Eng. Svetoslav Glosov. “In the extremely difficult for the sector situation with its active position the Chamber succeeded to find a solution and to be provided, though insufficient, funds from the budget for payments to companies, said the Chairman of the Chamber. However, the problem with payments is still standing. Therefore, our message to politicians of the 43rd National Assembly is to set aside their narrow political interests and to form a government that will work for the quick defrosting of funding under EU programs. It is needed to be made all necessary changes, so that the economy actually goes up. The projected growth of 1.2% for next year is not sufficient to really improve the life of people,” said Eng. Glosov and added that the new Cabinet should focus its efforts on the return of foreign investors. And 2015 will not be easy. But let us face it with optimism. Let us wish to be together, to have the chance to show your professionalism with the implementation of more building sites that will make the country more beautiful, more modern, more attractive for investments,” said Eng. Glosov. He wished health, luck, personal happiness and well-being to fellow-builders, their families and teams. “I think that the current year was strong for Sofia despite the difficulties we had. Sofia Municipality remained one of the biggest investors in the country. Of course, we did our best builders not to have any difficulties. Sofia Municipality is the most reliable payer and will continue to be such,” said Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova and added, “We managed to complete many major building sites that enjoy Sofia residents and facilitate their lives. We continue the construction of the underground; we launched the new intersection at the Seminary and reconstructed Tsarigradsko shose and Botevgradsko shose boulevards. We constructed kindergartens and made public parks. All this was done by you; these are jobs for you and your teams. For next year we have no less ambitious program. We will complete the underground to the airport and the business park. We will work for the extension of the second metro diameter along Cherni vrah Boulevard. Next year we will rehabilitate more streets, boulevards and others. I hope that we will start and complete the last of the five intersections on two levels – that of Bulgaria Boulevard and Acad. Ivan Evstatiev Geshov which because of appeals is in delay,” she said. “I rely on you, builders. We will be ever so demanding because Sofia citizens require it. Responsible business in your face showed that it could handle in heavy weather and in short terms,” said Fandakova. “Together with “Stroitel” newspaper we have prepared the exhibition “Look at Sofia – where construction meets history with the future”. It will be opened on 31 October on the pedestrian bridge at the National Palace of Culture over Bulgaria Boulevard and will continue until 14 November. We will see in it historical heritage and new construction. I expect the exhibition will attract the interest of both the industry and Sofia residents. I want to thank all for the social responsibility that many companies exhibit. We will continue to rely on you,” said Mayor Fandakova. “I am very grateful to all builders and to Eng. Svetoslav Glosov for the great cooperation with the caretaker cabinet. As caretaker deputy prime minister for EU funds management I would like to appeal to you to be more active in your work with EU funds not only in the construction of sites but also to expand the capacity of your companies, to train your employees, and to deploy more technology and innovation in order to be more competitive not only at home but also in Europe,” said caretaker deputy PM Iliyana Tsanova. After the official opening started the ceremony of awards in the ranking of BCC for good construction practices in 2013.  In it participated 3,268 companies listed in the Central Professional Register of Builders and performed the procedure under Article 20, paragraph 2 of CBA for 2013 as of 30 September 2014. They are divided into groups according to the priority of the construction group referred to in CPRB: In the first group are included 2,343 companies that perform high-rise construction (residential, public service, industrial), adjacent infrastructure, electronic communication networks and facilities. The second group includes 219 companies working on sites of transport infrastructure. In the third group are 428 companies involved in energy infrastructure and in the fourth – 278 companies specializing in public utility infrastructure, hydraulic engineering and environmental protection. Winners were determined by a three-member committee on the basis of declared information from the financial statements for 2013 in the electronic system of CPRB and according to the determined indices for assessment under Article 3, paragraph 2 of the Regulations for annual ranking. The committee was headed by Eng. Nikolay Stankov – BCC Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Regional Office of BCC – Sofia. His deputy was Executive Director of BCC Eng. Ivan Boykov and member of the jury was Georgi Grancharov, head of Central Unit “Register” at the Chamber. Among the evaluation criteria with the highest weight is “Net income from sales” for which companies receive 15 points. Then follow “Average staff for the last financial year” with 10 points and “Tangible fixed assets for the last financial year” with 5 points. From the ranking, based on Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Regulations, are excluded builders “Ка build BG” OOD, Sofia and “LC – group” OOD, Nesebar, which in 2012 and 2013 were awarded gold medals. “Glavbolgarstroy” AD grabbed the gold medal in large builders in the first group – high-rise construction (residential, public service, industrial), adjacent infrastructure, electronic communication networks and facilities. The silver medal was for “Geostroy” AD and the bronze – for “Planex” OOD. In the section “medium” and “small” construction companies gold received respectively “Lirex BG” OOD and “Doroslava stroy” OOD. The second group – construction sites of transport infrastructure for large builders winners are “Trace Group Hold” AD. Silver winners are “PST Holding” EAD and bronze winners “Agromah” EOOD. In “medium” and “small” builders gold award is for “Victoria Trans – 2007” EOOD and for “Vidapatstroy” AD. Unfortunately, winners in the third group – construction sites of the energy infrastructure - were not present to receive their awards. Big winners are “Enemona” AD. Silver was for “Filkab” AD and bronze – for “Atomenergoremont” ЕАD. In section “medium” the golden award was for “Solarpro Holding” AD and in small – for “Hertner Bulgaria” EOOD. “Geotechmin” OOD took the gold award for major builders in the fourth group – constructions of public utility infrastructure, hydraulic engineering and environmental protection. They are followed by “Stanilov” EOOD with silver and “Raicommerce Construction” EAD – with bronze. Winners in the category of medium-sized builders were “М & С concrete“ AD and in small – Vera stroy” EOOD. After the official part, in which became clear this year’s winners of the “Oscars” for the construction practice, proven quality and scale of projects under implementation, Sentimental Swingers and Mihail Yossifov Sextet were responsible for the good mood of the guests. For Builders’ Day the Bulgarian Construction Chamber received congratulatory letters from the Ministry of Environment and Water, State Fund Agriculture, Center for Prevention and Countering Corruption and Organized Crime, Public Procurement Agency, Chamber of Architects in Bulgaria, Confederation of employers and industrialists in Bulgaria, Burgas Municipality and from the Chairman of GERB Boyko Borisov.