The state policy for small and medium enterprises in Bulgaria

The peculiarities of the government policy regarding the small and medium firms in the period after 1989 are analized having in mind the lack of entrepreneur tradition in Bulgaria. The substantial role of the Small Business in the consolidation of the market economy and democracy is underlined. In connection with this the policy of the state to assist the sector is examined in several aspects - presence/lack of: political will; know-how for the respective priorities at higher political level; timely application of the planned measures; availability of resources and socioeconomic framework. The four basic directions are outlined, in which the attention of the industrial state is ordinarily guided to carry out the measures of the economic policy for rendering assistance of the entrepreneur activity under the present day conditions. By pointing out appropriate empiric examples the policy of Bulgaria regarding the Small Business is defined as lagging behind in efficiency compared to the policies of both the EU and the Vishegrade Group. Five conclusions are drawn out, summarizing the specifics and deficiencies of the purposeful influence of the state as regards entrepreneurship and small business in Bulgaria.