Project "MONTANA AND CALAFAT – TOMORROW" BG2005/017-455.01.03.01.14

Beneficiary: Montana-Tomorrow Foundation

The overall objective of the project “Montana and Calafat – tomorrow” is to strengthen the co-operation between Montana’s and Calafat’s communities in economic development area and to improve co-ordination between public authorities, local enterprises and NGOs.

The specific objective of the project is to develop a Bulgarian-Romanian CBC Center supporting cross-border economic development providing services for Bulgarian and Romanian enterprises and initiating events with high CBC effect.

Duration of the action :12 months  / from  11.11.2007 to  11.11.2008/

Partner:
Local Employer of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (PLIMM) Calafat – Romania

Final beneficiaries:

• Montana’s and Calafat’s communities – minimum 100 000 people
• Population of the border region – minimum 300 000 people

Target group:

• 60 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the Regions of Montana and Calafat;.
• 4 Montana’s and Calafat’s local and district governments;
• 8 Local Montana’s and Calafat’s organizations working in the local economic development area.

Estimated results:

• Developed Bulgarian-Romanian Centre for Cross-border cooperation, supporting economic development on both sides of the border, providing services for Bulgarian and Romanian enterprises.
• Done website of the Bulgarian, Romanian and English. 
•  Elaborated and distributed, on both sides of the border, 500 brochures.
• Elaborated and distributed 500 catalogues of Bulgarian, Romanian and English languages.
• Carried out two-day training seminar with the aim of training in devising projects and determine the possibilities for their financing, which will involve companies in Montana and Calafat to be considered and discussed opportunities for application and development of the joint Bulgarian-Romanian Projects funded by the Structural Funds.
• Carried out Bulgarian-Romanian Forum in September. It was created a partnership network of stakeholders from Montana and Calafat, exchange information regarding future partnership and joint projects and consolidated links between small and medium-sized enterprises, and regional and municipal offices and engaged in local economic development of both regions. The main idea was to exchange information on best practices, financial models, to discuss possibilities for joint projects, exchange of know-how, but mainly to consolidate the efforts of many actors to create a lasting presence of Bulgarian-Romanian.
• Signed a Memorandum for partnership of representatives of local authorities, SMEs and organisations working in the field of economic development of Montana and Calafat.
• Established Project Center for the preparation of joint projects to be financed by the Structural Funds, including the various operational programmes and cross-border cooperation programme for Bulgaria - Romania 2007-2013.

Bulgarian-Romanian CBC Center Activities 

• Elaboration of special matrix for the most important features for structural defining companies from Montana and Calafat
• Created special questionnaire for defines the Bulgaria’s SME needs and Romania’s SME needs. This questionnaire was sended to many Bulgarian and Romanian companies for development of the date of base.
• Created specific to each of the events Inquiry, which helped the proper development of the project and CBC Centre through proposals and evaluation
• Disseminated information by CBC Centre officials about current events organized not only under this project to Montana and Calafat businesses. This activity is a new service supporting local economic development.
• Developed date of base for existing Bulgarian and Romanian small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Developed presentations for the two regions - Montana and Calafat - assisted daily by the Bulgarian-Romanian Centre for Crossborder Cooperation and presentations provided by small and medium entrepreneurs in Montana and Calafat.
• Done marketing strategy for three yearly periods for cross-border region of Montana and Calafat. After analysis of existing economic potential of the regions of Montana and Calafat were identified priority areas, strategic measures and projects for three years. An important part of setting priorities of the marketing strategy was the creation of partnerships nests.
• Developed Bulgarian-Romanian website - www.mc-tomorrow.eu – in Bulgarian, Romanian and English, provides information on the Centre for cross-border cooperation to Montana and Calafat, local area economic development and structural determination of small and medium – sized enterprises in the regions of Montana and Calafat. The website contains links to existing business pages and other websites linked to Bulgarian-Romanian cooperation in economic development. Another main objective of the website is to promote the activities of the project. It publishes news and information about the project, reports from the conferences agenda of meetings, upcoming events, etc.
• Made catalogue and published in three languages - English, Romanian and English, for structural determination of small- and medium - sized enterprises in the regions of Montana and Calafat. The catalogues contain general information on the economic development of Montana and Calafat and businesses in the two regions.
• Subscribed on the 5th minute promotional film (translated into Bulgarian and Romanian), which promotes the Bulgarian-Romanian Centre for Cross - border Cooperation in Montana and its activities. The film is based on the implementation of the activities of the Project and was broadcast six times for better promoting peer network developed and the potential for joint projects could be financed by the Structural Funds. Were recorded and distributed free DVD-s with this movie.
• Pprepared and distributed 5th presentation of the CD. In connection with the two-day training seminar Centre provide recording and distribution of CD-s with the presentations presented at the training seminar.
• Ddistributed brochures and other materials for the Bulgarian-Romanian cooperation.
• Every user of the Centre completed an anonymous questionnaire which included an evaluation of the Centre and recommendations for improvement. This has created a successful model of self.

A key moment was the involvement of target groups – small- and medium-sized enterprises, local and regional authorities from Montana and Calafat, and organizations working in the area of local economic development - in the activities of the project. Each of the partners created a partnership network, know their own needs, and find new horizons in various activities of the project due to the cooperation provided by the Bulgarian-Romanian CBC Center in Montana and organized events with considerable cross-border effects. Representatives of small and medium enterprises have corrective activities of the project and active partner for future projects. Involvement of local authorities - regional and municipal offices - in the project ensures lasting presence and support for all major projects for border regions. Recognizing the importance of cross-border initiative, all groups actively participated in the creation of partnership and support all future joint projects.

Participating together in the annual Bulgarian-Romanian Currency PBL after completion of the project authorities and NGOs will support the findings of the partners will build upon the preparation and implementation of projects financed by the Structural Funds.

Contacts:
e-mail: montana_utre@dir.bg