Strengthening the capacity of the local authorities of the North-West planning region of Bulgaria for attracting foreign investors, institutional support for investments and IT solutions for administrative services

The purpose of the Project is to raise the competence and skills of the regional administration in the North-West region and support their use of IT to attract foreign investment, with the overall objective of increasing the level of foreign investment and of improving the business climate of the North-West planning region of Bulgaria. Reference is made to the application dated 24 April 2008, and to any subsequent correspondence with the Focal Point. The completed Project shall include the following activities and results: - background study on the implementation of the Foreign Investment Attraction legislation in the five regions of the North-West; - training and seminar activities; - one high-level study mission and four working-level visits to Norway for regional and municipal administration staff and representatives and one mission by experts from Norway to the North-West planning region local administration; - developing information materials and guides for foreign investors, including information training; - IT seminars for regional administrations on eGovernment solutions; - management and publicity, including final report and setting up an internet gateway to promote the five regions of the North-West;. The Project Promoter is the Bulgaria Economic Forum. Subject to national law, the Project shall be implemented in partnership with ScanBalt and the Nordic Innovation Centre. The Focal Point shall ensure that the Project Promoter provides at least 10 percent of the estimated total eligible project cost in the form of cash co-financing.