• Bulgaria

Русенска търговско-промишлена палата (РТПП)

Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry is located in Ruse, Bulgaria and its origin dates back all the way to 1890s, when the importance of the city was determined by its rapid industrial development and the traditional trade relations it maintained with the Danube countries, thus paving the way for the creation of the first chamber of commerce in Bulgaria. Today, RCCI is an NGO for the public benefit, providing a wide range of quality services to over 1500 member and non-member companies to help develop and expand their businesses, both at home and internationally. It proactively contributes to the economic development of the Ruse region, provides support and representation of the business and entrepreneurs on a regional and national level (also through the national Network of Chambers of Commerce and Industries and European BIC Network).

RCCI has an extended portfolio of services including business services (registration, certification, trade and custom services, GS1 services); Design, development and pilot testing of innovative methodologies and approaches; Project management; Market analysis; Seminars and workshops; Business planning; Research studies; Consultancy, training and coaching; Networking and Awareness raising events; and other tailored services, depending on the specific needs of the business.

The Chamber has expertise in organization of business trainings, workshops and seminars on various topics such as company environmental awareness tools and schemes, sustainable accounting, collaborative economy, business idea screening, business plan development; start-up investor readiness, responsible research and innovation process, Industry 4.0 etc. RCCI has also experience in the organization of a broad spectrum of business events – matchmaking B2B, meetings with foreign national authorities, fairs, delegations, consultation meeting and business representation meetings.

Along with the business support activity, RCCI has an extensive (15+ years) experience in project management and implementation under various EU and other funding programmes (incl. LdV, FP7, Erasmus+, Interreg, USAID, COSME, H2020, etc.), all initiatives related with entrepreneurial support and promotion, sustainable business development, environmental awareness for business, favouring and support of innovation. In particular, the chamber is very experienced in one of the most important aspects of EU project management i.e. dissemination and promotion. Our expertise in that regard has been built over the years, as a specifically assigned task leader in projects to lead work packages related to dissemination and promotion. Hence, we have elaborated a comprehensive methodology, templates, quality assurance and reporting mechanisms to achieve high quality results and develop sustainable products as part of this task of paramount importance.

Experts

Milen Dobrev

Project Manager

Milen Dobrev brings 16 years of expertise in operational management at the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and extensive experience in managing national and international projects. His work focuses on entrepreneurship, vocational training, cross-border cooperation, and SME development. As a member of the EBN Board of Directors, the supervisory board of the Danube Chamber of Commerce Federation, and Vice Chairman of the Bulgarian Fashion Association, Milen plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation and collaboration within the GenAISA project.

Ayri Memishev

Technician

Ayri Memishev is a project manager at the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) with over five years of experience in project administration and European project management. His expertise includes digital content creation, dissemination, research, and organizing workshops. Ayri has contributed to more than a dozen projects focusing on digitalization, Industry 4.0, digital skills, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship, bringing valuable technical and organizational skills to the GenAISA project.

Nikolay Tsolev

Researcher

Nikolay Tsolev brings extensive experience in developing dissemination strategies and marketing plans, supported by his background as a journalist and reporter with over five years of experience. His work focuses on corporate storytelling, SME digitalization, and internet and social media marketing. Nikolay also enhances RCCI’s public and media presence, contributing his communication expertise to the GenAISA project.

Irena Ivanova

Administrative Personnel

Irena Ivanova is an expert in European programs and projects at the Ruse Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) with over six years of experience. She specializes in the implementation and reporting of Erasmus+ programs and has contributed to research and analysis at both national and European levels in areas such as corporate social responsibility, digitalization, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Irena’s expertise includes developing training materials, event moderation, and project administration, making her a vital contributor to the GenAISA project’s success.