The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was among the participants in an event organized by the UN Refugee Agency - Consultations on Bulgaria’s Road to the Global Refugee Forum 2023. Seda Kuzucu, UNHCR Representative in Bulgaria opened the event and welcomed participants – representatives of all stakeholders involved in the integration of refugees in Bulgaria - government, municipalities, UN agencies and humanitarian partners, civil society, refugee-led organizations, academia and the private sector. Different models for integration that unite institutions, business and the community were discussed during the form. According to Kuzucu, 74% of refugees are women and children, so education is one of the most important elements of successful integration.
Susanne Klink, Senior Livelihoods and Economic Inclusion Officer at the Regional UNHCR bureau for Europe presented the Global Refugee Forum coming up at the end of 2023 and the pledges it covers. The event represents an opportunity to build on what has been achieved, to lend a hand to the refugees in Bulgaria as a united society, to search for solutions and strengthen the protection and inclusion of refugees.
Among the speakers were also representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, UNHCR experts, refugees, representatives of the local government.
Gabriela Dimitrova, Director of International Cooperation and International Organizations at the BCCI, demonstrated the Chamber's experience as the only Bulgarian business organization that made a pledge during the First Global Refugee Forum. Over 770 pledges were presented back in 2019, 6 of them - from Bulgaria. They concerned activities in the following areas: employment, education for refugee children, new government policies, resettlement, clean energy, infrastructure and better support for host communities and countries.
The pledge presented by BCCI, titled: “Integration of refugees in the labour market through the implementation of the ERIAS Programme” was related to the commitment of the European Chamber (CCI) network, under EUROCHAMBRES’ coordination to contribute to the economic integration of refugees through its action programme entitled “European Refugees Integration Action Scheme”- ERIAS.
Dimitrova provided practical advice on the process of making and presenting a pledge to the Global Refugee Forum.
Current initiatives of refugees and migrants aimed at improving the environment in which they live were also discussed.