FESTIVAL OF WORKER-PRODUCER COOPERATIVES AND SOCIAL ENTERPRISES

18/06/2026

The Festival of Worker-Producer Cooperatives and Social Enterprises has been officially opened and is now in full swing!
The event is organized by the National Union of Worker-Producer Cooperatives, with the support of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP), within the framework of the Social Economy Action Plan for the 2026–2027 period.
The festival was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Bankya, Dr. Alexandra Aleksandrova, who welcomed all attendees on her own behalf and on behalf of Mayor Rangel Markov. She then invited the distinguished guests to the stage: Ms. Nadya Klisurska, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy; Member of Parliament Assoc. Prof. Diana Dimitrova, a member of the Committee on Labor, Demographic and Social Policy; Mr. Dobri Mitrev, Chairman of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA); Prof. Nikolay Marin, Rector of the South-West University "Neofit Rilski"; Prof. Tsvetana Stoyanova, Rector of the University of National and World Economy (UNWE); Ms. Nadezhda Bacheva, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality; Ms. Smilena Kostova, Secretary General of the Economic and Social Council (ESC); and Dr. Vesela Politova from the MLSP’s Directorate for Social Economy and Social Entrepreneurship. "This festival is proof that the true wealth of a society lies not in buildings, technologies, or statistics, but in its people—in their aspiration to be useful, active, and dignified participants in our shared journey forward," stated Deputy Minister Klisurska.
Vladislav Lazarov, PhD, DSc, Chairman of the National Council of the Central Union of Producer Cooperatives (TPK), expressed his gratitude to the partners, participants, and visitors who made the event possible. He noted that "the history of the festival is an amazing example of how a beautiful idea can be transformed into a successful event, eagerly anticipated by visitors. From its beginnings in 2021—essentially in the courtyard of the 'Zheravna' National Production and Exhibition Center, and primarily involving the cooperative network itself—it has grown to reach the centers of Bankya and Sofia, in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Sofia Municipality, and some of Bulgaria’s largest and most prestigious universities. We thus have a practical example of an 'economy beyond profit' in action—characterized by unity, support, a nurturing environment, and visibility—all of which foster a sense of mission."
The ceremony featured performances by talented children from local music schools and concluded, as is tradition, with a fashion show by students from the Fashion Department at the Faculty of Arts of the South-West University "Neofit Rilski."
Send feedback