Support from Interreg programmes aimed at fostering the long-term growth of small and medium-sized enterprises was showcased at the Fourth Regional Partnership Forum “Connecting 4 Growth” in Burgas. The meeting brought together more than 300 participants from Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye and focused on strengthening cross-border economic cooperation and promoting opportunities for business development.
A representative from the Managing Authority of the Bulgaria-Türkiye programme outlined the role of Interreg programmes and how cross-border collaboration can help businesses expand, innovate and integrate into wider markets .Discussions emphasised the contribution of Interreg programmes in developing cross-border business ecosystems.
Panelists outlined a range of initiatives designed to support SMEs in scaling up, joining regional and global value chains and building stronger networks of partners and clients. While national schemes were described as primarily targeting competitiveness, Interreg programmes were presented as offering longer-term support through international partnerships and cross-border cooperation.
The forum was organised by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency, in partnership with the Bulgarian-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce. The event featured the Executive Directors of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, the Employment Agency, the accelerator “Future Unicorns” and representatives of the Managing and National Authority of the the Bulgaria-Türkiye programme.
