The International Scientific Conference “Cooperatives and Sustainable Development” in Blagoevgrad

10/10/2025

The National Union of Worker-Producer Cooperatives (NS of TPK) was a co-organizer of the international scientific conference "Cooperatives and Sustainable Development: Economic, Social, and Environmental Dimensions," held at the "Bachinovo" University Center of the South-West University "Neofit Rilski" in Blagoevgrad.

The forum was organized by the South-West University, Trakia University (Edirne), and the National Union of Worker-Producer Cooperatives in Bulgaria (NS of TPK).

The event took place within the framework of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025—declared by the United Nations—under the theme "Cooperatives Build a Better World."

The initiative brought together researchers, scholars, and professionals from all spheres of socio-economic life. Among the official guests were the Regional Governor of Blagoevgrad Province, Georgi Dinev; the Deputy Mayor for Education, Business Development, and Social and Health Policy of the Municipality of Blagoevgrad, Boryana Shalyavska; the Head of the "Europe Direct" network in Blagoevgrad, Krasimira Hadzhikoseva; the Vice-Rectors of the South-West University, Prof. Dr. Vyara Kyurova and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Iliya Nedin; the Director of the "Scientific and Educational Programs" Directorate, Prof. Dr. Ivanka Stankova; the Director of the Center for Vocational Training at the National Union of Labor-Productive Cooperatives (NULPC), Prof. Dr. Stefan Michev; the Director of the Regional Directorate of the State Fund "Agriculture" – Blagoevgrad, Ognyan Kitov; the Coordinator of the Regional Center for the Development of the Social Economy, Temenuzhka Zlatanova; as well as representatives from the academic community and the business sector.

The Chairman of the National Union of Labor-Productive Cooperatives (NULPC), Assoc. Prof. Vladislav Lazarov, welcomed the guests to the opening of the conference. He expressed his satisfaction with the long-standing partnership with the university and highlighted the event's contribution to promoting cooperative values. He also delivered a presentation titled "The Role of the National Union of Labor-Productive Cooperatives in the Development of the Cooperative Movement in Bulgaria."
In his informative and analytical address, Assoc. Prof. Lazarov noted that the cooperative movement serves as both an economic and a social force, successfully blending tradition with modernity in the pursuit of sustainable development.