The Rector Awarded a Prize for Responsible Trade to Kaufland Bulgaria at a Ceremony of the UN Global Compact Bulgarian Network

For a second consecutive year the most prestigious global sustainability awards SDG Pioneers 2023 were awarded by the United Nations. The national round is organized by the Bulgarian Network of the UN Global Compact and the UNWE has been its member since 2016.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov with Prof. Dr. Miroslava Peicheva and Prof. Dr. Elka Vasileva, contact persons of the UNWE with the UN Global Compact

Leading companies which are members of the UN Global Compact competed for the national prize and the applicants were assessed entirely according to international regulations set by the UN Global Compact methodology. The criteria are sustainable business performance, innovations in work on the goals, stakeholder awareness and engagement, application of the 10 UN principles in business operations and collaboration with the Global Compact through the local network.

The jury which determined the winners for Bulgaria was composed of the current Chairperson of the National Network Dimitar Tsotzorkov /Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Asarel-Medet company/, the former Chairman of the Network Ognian Trayanov /CEO, TechnoLogica Ltd./, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov /Rector, UNWE/, Elitsa Barakova /CEO, BCause Foundation /, Christina de Bruin /Official Representative, UNICEF/ and Dr. Ivanka Shalapatova, Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

The official awarding ceremony of the Bulgarian winner took place at the Hyatt Regency Sofia. The winners of the global prize will be announced during the UN Summit of Leaders in September 2023 in New York, USA.

The Chairperson Dimitar Tsotzorkov opened the ceremony excited that the idea and philosophy of the Global Compact is gaining more and more supporters. "it is an evening of the champions who give back to society. I know that their success will provoke positive news", welcomed the attendees Mr. Tzotzorkov.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov gave a special award for responsible trade which has put the sustainable development at the heart of its business strategy to Kaufland Bulgaria. He did not hide his contentment that he had this honour. "Kaufland Bulgaria have been our long-standing partner. Together we implement many projects in our university - business academies, student training, etc. They are a good partner of the communities. They are socially responsible in everything they do", said the Rector of UNWE.

Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov with Prof. Dr. Miroslava Peicheva and Prof. Dr. Elka Vasileva, contact persons of the UNWE with the UN Global Compact

Dimitar Tsotzorkov gave a special award for financing the sustainable development and for the consistent efforts in finding solutions for the future introduction of a stable framework for sustainable financing to Tsvetanka Mincheva, CEO of UniCredit Bulbank. Mrs. Mincheva, who is also a graduate of UNWE and a partner in numerous joint initiatives with our university, emphasized that financing the sustainable development is the bank's core mission and that it is the only way to transform our country into a better place to live.

Another special award – the Sustainable Banking Award, was bestowed by the official representative of UNICEF Christina de Bruin to Peter Ruben, Country Manager of KBC Group, for his overall efforts to make sustainability the foundation of daily operations. On his behalf Desislava Simeonova, Executive Director Banking, said that the sustainability, corporate social responsibility and the Global Compact are part of the recognized value system of their business. "A sustainable future for the next generations is part of the DNA of small and medium-sized businesses", outlined Mrs. Simeonova.

There are two finalists who will represent our country at the global round. For the first time, the global organization has put the small and medium-sized businesses in the spotlight because they represent the vast majority of businesses globally making a significant impact on the environment, society and the economy.

This separate competition category recognizes the potential of small and medium-sized enterprises who although facing unique challenges in implementing sustainable business practices due to their limited resources, experience and access to finance, are innovative and flexible leaders of sustainable development.

In the category "SDG Pioneer 2023 Small and Medium Enterprises", the award was given to Roberto Santorelli, CEO of KUMINIANO FRUIT. The award was bestowed by Ginka Mashova-Stanchova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy and Master of UNWE in Finance and Public Administration. "We are small and medium as entrepreneurs but we can add value to global business and initiatives", said Mr. Santorelli.

Dimitar Tsotzorkov awarded the second grand prize in the Business category to Spyros Nomikos, CEO of Solvay Sodi AD - Devnya. At the beginning of 2022 as part of its programme entitled One Planet led by Mr. Nomikos, the campaign announced ambitious targets for environmental and sustainable development - reducing the carbon footprint of production by 40% by 2027, ending the use of fossil fuels by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

SDG Pioneers 2023 Bulgaria - jury and winners

UN Global Compact

The Global Compact was officially launched by the Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 1999. The initiative calls on companies to adopt ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-corruption and to implement them in their business strategies and day-to-day operations.

The Global Compact is a platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue with the active participation and support of companies, UN specialized organizations, business associations, NGOs and trade unions to promote corporate social responsibility and ethical business standards. Through their commitment to universally accepted values and by minimizing the negative effects of their business activities, companies can contribute to making globalization a positive force. The private sector is also a key partner contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As of 2011 at international level the Global Compact brings unites on a voluntary basis almost 8000 companies, business associations, NGOs from 130 countries in a network of best practice exchange and association, all of whose membership is officially recognized and named on the official Global Compact international website.

The Bulgarian Network of the UN Global Compact functions as part of the global network and was officially proclaimed on 6 May 2011 by H. E. Ban Ki-moon - UN Secretary General.

The Bulgarian network unites responsible companies and has a recognizable image and created collective projects of public importance that have a positive effect on the sustainable development of business and society. It has created a working style and traditions on how to pool capacity to achieve a new level of Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR 2.0 or Collective Social Responsibility.

The Network not just follows the ten principles of the Global Compact – it use them to change the culture of our society by applying them creatively to its needs.

The Bulgarian network is a national partner organization of CSR Europe - the leading European business network for corporate sustainability and responsibility. The organization unites over 10000 businesses at local, European and global level and supports businesses and industry sectors in their transformation and collaboration towards practical solutions and sustainable growth. CSR Europe works for systemic change and strives together with European leaders and stakeholders to create a strategy for Sustainable Europe 2030.