1. KRIB
novini.vratsa.eu – Diplomat #1 of our northern neighbor: From Plovdiv we are taking a new step between Bulgaria and Romania PHOTOS VIDEO
Published: 05.04.2024/15/50 XNUMX:XNUMX
05 April, 15:23 0 "From Plovdiv, we are taking a new step in the development of bilateral Bulgarian-Romanian relations. The city with a thousand-year history becomes the third center after Burgas and Silistra, in which we open a consulate of Romania. I sincerely believe that the interests of Romanian citizens will be worthily protected by the honorary consul, in whom both countries vote their confidence". With these words, the ambassador of Romania to Bulgaria, Brandusa Ioana Predescu, presented today at the Congress Center of the International Fair in Plovdiv the newly elected honorary consul of our northern neighbor, Dr. Eng. Dimitar Beleliev. In addition to the Plovdiv region, its jurisdiction includes the regions of Lovech, Gabrovo, Haskovo, Kardjali, Smolyan, Pazardzhik, Blagoevgrad and Kyustendil.
In addition to diplomatic representatives of the two countries, among the official guests of the event were the Deputy Speaker of the 49th National Assembly Nikola Minchev, the Mayor of Plovdiv Kostadin Dimitrov, deputies, mayors and regional governors of neighboring cities, honorary consuls of other countries in Plovdiv, representatives of the business, cultural and educational community.
Diplomat No. 1 of Romania emphasized that the partnership between the two countries now has a new dimension, both at the European and global level. Predescu recalled the important document signed on March 15, 2023 in Sofia between the presidents of Bulgaria and Romania - Rumen Radev and Klaus Iohannis, which is key not only for our bilateral relations, but also for the EU as a whole. The document refers to a strategic partnership, especially in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The new cooperation framework paves the way for the implementation of new projects of bilateral and regional interest, including in areas of common interest within the EU, NATO and other formations.
"We are separated by only one bridge with Romania, the two countries together build bridges of rapprochement and pursue common goals, and now we are building a new bridge from Plovdiv, which gives us a chance for new initiatives," commented Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov in his welcome. In turn, in his speech, Nikola Minchev emphasized that being an honorary consul does not mean that you are a lapel pin, but an important lever for business, economic, educational, social, cultural, etc. connections that will raise the image of Plovdiv. Minchev made a laconic but accurate presentation of Belelilev, announcing that he is a businessman with a wide range of business ventures - from the energy sector to the import of matches, of which he is the largest importer in Bulgaria.
Dr. Eng. Beleliev announced to the audience that he sees huge potential in the field of educational, cultural and tourist exchange between Romania and the Bulgarian cities covered by the consulate. He pointed out that for the strategic partnership, the three principles shared by the two countries are important - democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The presentation ceremony of the Honorary Consul of Romania in Plovdiv ended with a ribbon cutting. Ambassador Brandusha Ioana Predescu, Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov and Dr. Eng. Dimitar Beleliev took a souvenir of the Romanian tricolor. The office of the consulate is the former hall "Yantra" in the Congress Center of the Plovdiv International Fair.
We remind you that Dr. Eng. Dimitar Beleliev is the Chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics. He has nearly 30 years of experience as a manager and investor in the energy sector. In 2020, he founded "AmonRa Energy" - one of the largest certified centers for supplying products and providing solutions for solar energy in the Balkans and the first photovoltaic company listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, BEAM segment. From 2002 until now, he has been the chairman of the Board of Directors of the oldest and largest Bulgarian enterprise for the maintenance of large generating capacities in the energy sector - "Central Energy Repair Base" (CERB). He is the chairman of the Control Board of KRIB (from 2014 to the present), heads the Board of the Association for Bulgarian-Ukrainian Friendship and Cooperation, is a member of the Board of the Scientific and Technical Union of Energy Engineers in Bulgaria. Master of Economics with a specialty in "Energy Business" from UNSS in Sofia. He also has a doctoral degree on the topic "Assessment of Bulgaria's energy security", defended at UNSS. He is the author of publications on topics related to energy security. Photos by Valentina Bilareva
2. Employers
focus-news.net - They propose to drop the secret of the salary
Published: 06.04.2024/18/20 XNUMX:XNUMX
Bulgaria must transpose into its legislation two new directives - on pay transparency and on adequate minimum wages and the promotion of collective labor agreements, the KNSB insists. They are extremely valuable because they will change the labor market, provide opportunities for a fair and transparent labor price. People will know how it is determined, how it is increased, explained KNSB president Plamen Dimitrov. This for equal and transparent pay will lead to the elimination of the so-called company secret of the salary, as the companies will be obliged to publish on their websites the starting salaries of their employees and workers in the individual job categories. Their publication will shed light on the labor market, since the relevant insurance will be paid on the announced wages, it will be clear in which companies the predominantly employed are on the minimum wage, and this will also raise the relevant questions, explained Dimitrov. Stepping on the Adequate Minimum Wage Directive wages and promotion of collective bargaining, the National Labor Code proposes to create a completely new chapter on wages - how it is formed and negotiated in the Labor Code. Thus, the experience from Western Europe can be transferred to Bulgaria as well. The Confederation proposes to negotiate new levels of minimum wages for people with special qualifications - with secondary and higher education, required for the position held. Thus, we will have a commitment by law to negotiate with the employers at the national level different from the current MRZ, which is for low-skilled labour, levels. After that, it is necessary to go down to the level of enterprises, where the starting levels of the pay by categories of personnel, positions and economic activities should be negotiated. Once agreed, they will give enough information to people what their labor is worth with the qualifications for that job. This is a simplified version of the German for salary negotiation, explained the president of KNSB, reports pariteni.bg. He pointed out that the proposals for legislative changes have been submitted to employer organizations for discussion and on those on which there is already agreement, actions may be requested from the acting Minister of Labor and Social Policy as early as next week.
https://www.focus-news.net/novini/Bylgaria/Predlagat-da-padne-tainata-na-zaplatata-2069480
24chasa.bg – Bulgarians who work in Germany will also pay tax here
Published: 06.04.2024/10/40 XNUMX:XNUMX
Changes are foreseen in the agreement to avoid double taxation - Bulgarians working in Germany will pay tax here.
In the changes that are expected to enter into force next year, there will be a group of Bulgarians who will be harmed. The reason is simple - Bulgaria, unlike Germany, does not provide for a certain limit of income, which is not subject to tax.
Nadia Kluge is a lawyer and consultant in the non-governmental organization "Fair Mobility". It has built 11 centers where they help our compatriots in Germany with legal advice.
"As a consultant in a center for labor legal issues, I can say what will happen to the workers, who are mostly seasonal workers. For the simple reason that persons employed in Germany with an employment contract are fully subject to the tax and social law of the German country when their permanent residence is Germany. For seasonal workers, the permanent place of residence is not Germany, but Bulgaria", says lawyer and consultant in "Fair Mobility" Nadia Kluge.
According to her, the workers return to Bulgaria for a short period, and the rest of the time they work in Germany.
As with all other groups, the agreement for avoiding double taxation between Germany and Bulgaria applies to seasonal workers. In the event of a change, a change in the tax calculation method will also be observed.
"Until now, seasonal workers paid tax in Germany only when their income exceeded the free limit. This means that they did not pay tax in Bulgaria at all", she adds.
For 2024, the free limit is 11 euros. If until now Bulgarian seasonal workers earned less than this amount for several months of work in Germany and did not pay tax in either country - now this is changing.
"With the new change, even if they make less than 11 euros, the amount is included in the tax base. It is taken into account when calculating the taxes due in Bulgaria. I, for example, worked for three months in Germany and earned 604 or 6 euros. At the same time, I also worked in Bulgaria and have an income of BGN 000. In order to calculate the taxes due in Bulgaria, the amount I received as a salary in Germany is added, plus the amount I received as a salary in Bulgaria. And this total amount with a 8% tax benefit in Bulgaria", adds Kluge.
There is another feature that seasonal workers should keep in mind from next year. The moment the employment contract ends and they return to Bulgaria, it is necessary to take from the employer in Germany a document for remuneration received and taxes paid. Because the Bulgarian and German tax systems exchange information in the meantime. There is also the obligation for seasonal workers to file a tax return in Bulgaria.
Nadia Kluge is also aware of the benefits received in our country by some Bulgarians who worked for a short time abroad. Issued by the National Insurance Institute, they can reach up to BGN 1 and a term of up to 800 months.
"This is not a scheme, it is a legal rule. This also applies to seasonal workers. When employees work in two EU countries, they worked in Bulgaria for a certain period of time, and then they work as seasonal workers, but for a shorter period of time abroad - they remain and are subject to the Bulgarian social legislation, the Bulgarian legal norm"
She explained that, in this way, workers receive unemployment benefits under Bulgarian law regardless of the fact that they have worked for a period of time abroad, NOVA reported.
"However, it is necessary that they have worked in Bulgaria for a longer period of time. This legal scheme can be done mainly by seasonal workers, because their usual place of residence remains in Bulgaria", said Kruge.
According to her, the problem for the Bulgarian state lies in the difference in the amount of the minimum wage. "These people usually receive a minimum wage, but it is currently 13,41 euros per hour in Germany, which is significantly more than the Bulgarian wage. By working in this method as seasonal workers, Bulgaria is obliged to pay cash unemployment benefits based on this high salary. Despite the fact that previously relatively low social insurances were paid, which is at the expense of the budget and the treasury", Kruge added.
https://www.24chasa.bg/biznes/article/17575204
economic.bg - Where is the big divergence in the labor market
Published: 06.04.2024/10/10 XNUMX:XNUMX
The job market today is different from yesterday. If we know what tomorrow will be like, we can now start adapting, learning new things, directing our children to professions that will be relevant and in demand. This is how Georgi K. Parvanov, CEO of the leading regional HR company STEAM and member of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Association for the Management of Xopa, sees the development:
Environmental engineering and environmental protection - interest in this specialty in universities is so low that there are practically no students. The boom in all things ESG will create a huge demand for such specialists and they will be highly paid. Universities this time are showing timely action to create programs for the future needs of business, but teenagers are not keeping up with tomorrow's market development.
The next group of specialties in short supply is heating and ventilation technicians, as well as elevator maintenance. In new buildings, several thousand elevators are added to the existing capacities every year, and only about 40 people a year acquire such skills. The market is looking for auto fitters and auto mechanics, as the number of cars is growing at a breakneck pace, and there is a big deficit in this field as well. The best either open their own workshops or go to work abroad at incomparably higher pay. Those who graduate from technical schools in motor transport either go to study or reorient themselves to another profession, since they do not want to lie down under cars and deal with repairs. And we ask ourselves why there is no interest in these important specialties, even though it is easy to find a job afterwards, with a high salary? It's just that millennials don't want to "get their hands dirty." They do not want to do hard work, they also run away from production. Accounting is also a field with a large shortage of people. Everything is digitized there, you work with computers and tablets, you can join from any corner of Bulgaria. But the young are not enthusiastic about such a realization. There is a large shortage of professions related to agriculture - for example, agronomists and mechanics of agricultural machinery. And the Thrace University in Stara Zagora is in the TOP 100 of the best agricultural universities in the world. Food production will require people, including technologists and laboratory specialists. Young people usually do not want to devote themselves to specialties in which there is a lot of learning. Such groups in universities are half empty. Until recently, we were talking about how the state, the system of secondary and higher education lags behind the needs of the market. Now we see that even when they foresee the development and create the necessary specialties, there is not always interest in them. For areas where there is a shortage of personnel, scholarships can be given to direct interest there.
Employers they need to present their companies and the opportunities they offer in a more attractive way. At the same time, it is good for them to stop talking about how much effort they put into developing their employer brand and how socially responsible they are, and show tolerance towards employees who are raising children and grandchildren. A key employee at my company had received an attractive new job offer and said that half of the factor holding her back from the team was that she had two small children and was away on average one day a week. I fully understand this. Let every employer think how important this aspect is, but with actions, not words.
I was a guest lecturer at UNSS and in a group of 20 students, 10 did not work. I was amazed. I realized that some of them do not like to work, their parents provide well for them. But the startling fact is that there is close to zero tolerance in universities for students who study full-time and work at the same time.
Many are ready to work, but do they appear for an interview, the employers they are screened out at the very first meeting, after they find out that they are full-time students. If the employers have flexibility, then even more students will start working while they study.
In 2022, 6 work permits for people from third countries were issued in our country. Last year, their number was two and a half times more. This year, they are expected to reach 30. Thus, in time, several hundred thousand people who came from countries outside the EU will gather to join the workforce here. Bulgaria is rapidly catching up with the salaries of Greece and Italy. We are far from the rewards of Luxembourg and Switzerland. When we fully join Schengen, it will be very easy for people who came on a three-year work visa to move to other EU countries. Individual cases are the refugees who stay to work here. A small part of the Ukrainians in our country have joined the labor market, and mainly by sea. The great wave passed and went to the West.
In our country, the Roma are seen as underutilized capital, but according to studies since the beginning of the pandemic, half of them have moved to Western Europe and a part have found a way to adapt to the social systems and live without working. But others have skills and are well accepted in the manufacturing and service industries.
In the long term, automation, digitization, robotization will change the labor market. The profession of the car mechanic, the plumber, the person who knows how to make repairs will continue to be sought. Let people look to tomorrow and prepare for the time that is coming. My recommendation is that they focus on professions that will be in demand, but it is also important that they themselves bring satisfaction and joy.
In recent years there has been interest from 14-17 year olds who want to work or do internships.
There is a wave of return - people are coming from South Africa, Argentina and other distant countries who are second generation emigrants born there. Finance Minister Asen Vassilev referred to statistics according to which 8 more people returned, compared to the number of those who went to work abroad.
The topic of remote work continues to be on the agenda and the employers may be more flexible in this regard.
Many of the companies have good products and services, but show duplicity and misunderstanding of their people. No matter what Best Employer awards are received, if an employee is not satisfied with the treatment, they look for another job.
The text is part of no. 119 of the magazine "Economics". It is published in Economic.bg by virtue of a partnership agreement between the two media. The topics and opinions are selected by the magazine team and do not necessarily coincide with the editorial policy of Economic.bg.
https://www.economic.bg/bg/a/view/kyde-e-goljamoto-razminavane-na-pazara-na-truda
c. 24 chasa, page 10 - UBB CEO Peter Ruben with a prestigious award
Published: 06.04.2024/00/31 XNUMX:XNUMX
The French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded it as "Business person of the year"
Peter Ruben - chairman of the country team of KVS Group in Bulgaria and CEO of UBB, was honored with the award "Business person of the year", reported the financial institution. This happened during a special ceremony to announce the winners of the Innovation Awards 2024 competition. The event is organized by the Franco-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and aims to draw attention to innovative solutions and significant projects implemented by businesses in Bulgaria, to encourage and support leaders in innovation, which are at the heart of economic development and progress.
"I accept this award on behalf of UBB and the entire KVS Group team in Bulgaria. This is a recognition of their commitment and talent. I am particularly proud that the implementation of our digital assistant Kate from UBB Mobile was one of the main factors that convinced the jury. In the context of complex integration, UBB always keeps the needs of its customers at the center of everything it does. With Kate, we offer the best that digital innovation can provide today in financial services, and there will be much more", emphasized Peter Ruben in his address to the jury and the organizers of the competition.
This is another high honor for Peter Ruben after he came to Bulgaria in 2021 as the CEO of UBB.
At the end of last year, he was awarded the "Banker of the Year 2023" award for UBB's stable growth in a period of consolidation. Reuben also has a personal award for "Leader in Sustainable Development" in PwC's 2023 ESG Awards competition, and earlier that year he won the Special Award for Sustainable Banking in the international competition 2023 SDG Pioneers of the United Nations Global Compact.
The French-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a non-profit organization that unites over 270 French, Bulgarian and international companies that aim to promote and develop bilateral economic and trade relations between the two countries.
KVS Group is one of the largest investors in our country with over 2,4 billion euros of direct investments in the banking and financial sector over the last 15 years. The group offers the entire range of financial products and services in a banking and insurance model unique to the country. By the end of 2023, the companies managed by "KVS Group Bulgaria" employ about 6000 people, who look after the interests of nearly 2,2 million customers. (24 hours)
***
Peter Ruben, chairman of the KVS Group country team in Bulgaria and CEO of UBB, was honored with the award ..Business person of the year
http://clippingpoint.net/article/6f035925b90b4f7acf2f305ff89fcf0aeddefb2f
BTA - The University of National and World Economy is the winner of the "Brand of Bulgaria" award in the "Innovative Universities" category
Published: 05.04.2024/20/40 XNUMX:XNUMX
The University of National and World Economy (UNWS) was awarded the "Brand of Bulgaria" award in the "Innovative Universities of Bulgaria" category at the second edition of the Annual National Awards "Brand of Bulgaria", the university announced today.
The solemn ceremony took place in Inter Expo Center, in Sofia. The awards were established in 2023 by TV1 Bulgaria and the program "Brands of Bulgaria", in a strategic partnership with Inter Expo Center.
The annual national awards "Brand of Bulgaria" aim to give deserved attention and recognition to brands from all over the country, established on the Bulgarian market, for their significant contribution to the development of the Bulgarian economy. Focus in the selection, in addition to the imposed and prominent brands that are the drivers of the country's economy, there are also those that contribute to the small and medium business, and give an example and hope to others that the golden years for the Bulgarian economy are ahead.
The management of UNSS writes that the university received the prize because of its purposeful strategy for the successful integration of students into business middle of Bulgaria. The award is accompanied by vouchers for communication and media services with a total value of over BGN 12, the university adds.
"Our task is to create competitive specialists for the Bulgarian economy. People who, even from the student bench, meet the business and gain experience from the leading companies in the respective fields, and the state institutions. Our students are almost 100 percent successful in the labor market and most of them find prestigious jobs while still studying. That's why this award is especially valuable to us. It is a sign not only that our efforts are noticed, but also that this is necessary for our country". This is what Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov said upon receiving the statuette - a lion, personifying the prosperity of Bulgaria, and a main element in the coat of arms of our country.
The rector recalled that UNSS received the highest accreditation rating among Bulgarian universities and that for several years in a row it was the winner of the "Academic Oscar" award for the most prestigious higher education institution in the professional field of "Economics". Prof. Dimitrov also told about business the academies that are organized to support training, including those with leading companies such as "Coca-Cola" and "Kaufland".
The purpose of the second edition of the Annual National Awards "Brand of Bulgaria" is to give an opportunity to talk about the challenges facing the various sectors of the economy. The purpose of the forum is to reward people who are drivers of positive change and are "builders" of the new business environment of Bulgaria, specified by the higher school.
The organizer of the event was the presenter of the program "Brands of Bulgaria" on TV1 Bulgaria, Maria Vasileva. It gave the opportunity to selected top 20 brands of Bulgaria to tell more about the challenges, achievements, and who are the people behind the logo, who build the sustainable business policies of Bulgaria.
"Market experience shows that brands that are distinguished by their resistance to business processes are the ones that invest, apart from innovations in production processes, in socially responsible causes, green lines of product positioning, as well as in media coverage of the successes they achieve," shared Maria Vasileva.
According to her, this second edition of the Annual National Awards "Brand of Bulgaria" is extremely important for the overall microeconomic scene of the country, because the economic stability and the change of the overall entrepreneurial environment depend on both large and small Bulgarian brands and their market success.
The co-host of the event was Pavel Vladimirov - manager of the "Cinematica" brand for the production of video content, advertising clips and films.
forbesbulgaria.com - Competition for students in solving real business cases
Published: 08.04.2024/13/45 XNUMX:XNUMX
For the third consecutive year, the American University in Blagoevgrad organized a competition for students in business specialties, which aims to make a bridge between educational theory and reality business practice.
In the competition, 6 teams of students develop business decisions on a case study provided by a real Bulgarian company. This year, the teams' goal was to develop and present a sales strategy for the company EnhanCV, an online resume-building startup that in 2016 was part of the Forbes 30 under 30 selection.
The teams presented their strategies to a jury, and the winners were those whose proposals directly contribute to the future development of the company, the improvement of its processes and its entry into new markets. To solve the case, the participants had to apply the strategies learned during the event – building a buyer profile, cold calling strategies, building strategies for connecting with potential customers and building a value proposition.
"With my participation in the competition, I gained an idea of what it is like to work in a rapidly changing environment. I learned to manage my time effectively and to select the information that will be useful in the final presentation, and that which is better not to be presented" - says Kremena Slavkova, a participant in the events organized by the students' club in business majors in the American University Associates Consulting Club.
This year's Consultant For a Day competition is held in partnership with MarketStar Bulgaria, and the winners have the opportunity to visit a company and meet the vice president - an opportunity that is highly valued by the participants.
https://forbesbulgaria.com/2024/04/08/sastezanie-za-studenti-v-reshavane-na-realni-biznes-kazusi/
dbr.bg - Stoyan Tsvetkov, Investbank: Business and institutions must adapt to the new reality
Published: 08.04.2024/13/00 XNUMX:XNUMX
European regulations in the field of sustainable development are already affecting the banking sector. Investbank has been working on the topic for more than a year. A resource is committed, both human and financial, so that we can respond in the best way to the new requirements. On the other hand, ESG will change to some extent business the models of banking market participants. Last but not least, ESG will have an impact on the capital requirements for banks and most likely will affect the price to customers. We have many initiatives and projects that are currently being worked on and that are embedded in our plans. We are currently focused on a series of trainings and building a well-prepared team to cover the overall implementation of ESG regulations in all processes and systems in the bank. We have a written plan with specific activities to reduce our carbon footprint. This plan includes multiple projects. We continue to communicate with stakeholders. In 2023 we launched several socially relevant ESG initiatives. One of them is the "Seasons" project that we implemented with the Visionary Foundation. The main goal was to raise the issue of environmental protection with a focus on the consequences of human activity, climate changes and the loss of Bulgaria's characteristic four seasons. Artists from 6 countries transformed an area of over 400 square meters into an open gallery. m in the metropolitan pedestrian underpass on Blvd. "Bulgaria" and Blvd. "Todor Kableshkov", drawing attention to the four seasons in a positive but somewhat nostalgic way. 12 artists from Bulgaria, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Austria, Germany and Great Britain took part in the project. People working at Investbank want to contribute to the improvement of the urban environment. They believe that behind big plans and good results are many small but confident steps that make the ultimate goal achievable. Therefore, together with Taralej Art & Design, we started a project for the restoration of old electrical appliances. boards, as part of the bank's commitment to society and our environment. We combined creativity and responsibility in our desire to contribute to making Sofia a greener and more picturesque place. With this project, we aim to stimulate public engagement with the urban environment and show that with small steps and targeted efforts, the capital can be more welcoming and colorful. Investbank strives to support various green causes, including those that promote active lifestyles and sports. That's why we stood behind the initiative of the "School of Mountaineering and Climbing" to build a sport climbing facility. The new terrain for climbers is located near the village of Dorkovo, in the "Ostrata Skala" area. The object is located on a rocky promontory, surrounded on three sides by the river Mutnitsa. At the moment, I can responsibly say that the topic is still not understood by a large part of businesses. Rather, it is units that understand and work actively on this topic. If by institutions you mean the state as a whole, my answer is the same. The subject is not understood and is still not being worked on with the necessary pace and results. Let me give you an example – the directive adopted in December 2022 has not yet been transposed, not to mention the lack of communication from the state to businesses and people. business has already established itself as a model in most European countries. It's a matter of time everyone business, which has not adapted to the new reality, to start suffering losses from it, either through sanctions or through more difficult access to finance. The answer is yes, but technology and digitization should not be an end in themselves in the context of ESG. The goal is sustainability, and if technology and digitalization contribute to the achievement of this goal, then they will go hand in hand.
24chasa.bg - Philip Morris International's integrated sustainability report for 2023 presents the company's progress in its mission for a smoke-free future
Published: 08.04.2024/09/05 XNUMX:XNUMX
The emphasis is on the continuous expansion of the portfolio of smoke-free alternatives
Users of Philip Morris International's smokeless alternatives are now 33 million, they show business results reported in Philip Morris International's latest Integrated Sustainability Report, which for the 5th year in a row marks the company's progress towards fully replacing cigarettes with potentially less harmful alternatives that are a better choice for all those adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke. The report aims to present an objective description of business the company's model, strategy, results and prospects in relation to the priority economic, social, environmental and management topics.
The integrated report for 2023 emphasizes the continuous enrichment of the company's portfolio of smokeless alternatives, as well as the fulfillment of its ambitions for sustainable development. The report focuses on topics related to the impact of the company's products and the impact of business her operations.
"2023 was a year of continued commitment to our vision of a smoke-free future. Thanks to the talent and focus of our employees, we keep moving forward, driving innovation and promoting sustainable development," says Jacek Olczak, CEO of Philip Morris International.
IQOS users worldwide are already 28.6 million, according to the company, which from 2008 to today has invested more than 12.5 billion in scientific research, development and offering smoke-free alternatives, the net income from which is already 36.4%. The leading smokeless alternative from Philip Morris International's portfolio is now in 84 markets around the world, and in 25 of them its net revenue exceeds 50%.
In early March, as part of its mission to build a smoke-free future, the company launched IQOS ILUMA i in Japan – the latest and most innovative addition to Philip Morris International's growing portfolio of smoke-free alternatives. It also coincides with the 10th anniversary of IQOS' first market launch in Nagoya, Japan in 2014.
Regarding the impact of business operations, the company shows progress in the direction of promoting an inclusive work environment by reporting that it continues to exceed its goal of 40% women in managerial positions and in 2023 the result in this direction is already 41.8%.
The report also highlights the company's efforts to improve people's lives along the supply chain, decarbonize operations and value chain, and protect nature and biodiversity.
“With the 2023 Integrated Report, we emphasize that building a smoke-free future is not just a priority, it is at the heart of our mission. The path we're on is marked by our ambition to be leaders, our promise to operate in a transparent way and our determination to make cigarettes a thing of the past," said Jennifer Motles, Chief Sustainability Officer at Philip Morris International. "We remain committed to transparent, consistent and reliable reporting practices that enable external stakeholders to understand not only our results, but also how we respond to a rapidly changing environment and plan for the long term, helping to create a more sustainable and transparent business environment.'
You can learn more about Philip Morris International's sustainability efforts at pmi.com/sustainability, where you will also find the company's full 2023 Integrated Report.
The preparation of the Integrated Report of Philip Morris International for 2023 took into account the guidelines laid down in international standards and frameworks, including: the Global Accountability Initiative (GRI); The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC); The goals for sustainable development of ONN; The IFRS Foundation, including implementation of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards, Integrated Accounting Principles and Integrated Reporting Framework.
The material is published with the support of Philip Morris Bulgaria.
https://www.24chasa.bg/biznes/article/17569058
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