The National Company Industrial Zones Fast-Tracking Success initiative is ranked in the top three at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2019 organized by the European Commission. This happened at an official ceremony in Helsinki, Finland, during the Annual Assembly of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The ceremony was attended by the NCIZ Executive Director Antoaneta Bares and Georgi Hristov, Head of Legal Services and Property Management Department.

The NCIZ's Fast-Tracking Success project was ranked in the Improve Business Environment category. Ms. Bares received a certificate of distinction. Spain took the first place with its project.

The aim of the NCIZ's Fast-Tracking Success program is to create conditions for the professional development of young people from universities and vocational high schools by providing permanent employment and internships in foreign companies in the industrial zones. The initiative was launched in 2017 and was proposed by Antoaneta Bares, Executive Director of National Company Industrial Zones. The purpose of the project is to overcome the problem of youth unemployment and to create favourable conditions for current and new investors in the state industrial zones. The initiative offers a solution to one of the most serious challenges facing investment projects, namely the shortage of specialists. More than 100 highly qualified young professionals have been employed on a permanent basis in companies with production facilities situated in company’s zones in Ruse, Burgas and Bozhurishte.

Fast-Tracking Success maintains a sustainable connection between academia, business and public authorities by overcoming the problem of labour market demand and supply through an innovative approach. In this way, young people who have graduated from higher or vocational secondary education can start their careers under high standard conditions, which are provided by Bulgarian and foreign investors in NCIZ industrial zones.

In February this year, Antoaneta Bares, executive director of the company, organized a roundtable on „Business and Education - Expectations and Challenges“ in Sofia as part of the Fast-Tracking Success project. The discussions were attended by representatives of 10 universities and vocational high schools with which NCIZ has signed Memoranda of Cooperation.

29 countries from all over Europe participated in this year's edition of the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2019. The finalists in various categories included Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, Sweden. The European Enterprise Promotion Awards is aimed at all national, regional and local public institutions, public and business organizations. The purpose of the initiative is to identify and distinguish the most effective and original projects promoting entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial skills and improving the business environment in Europe and in particular in Bulgaria. Thus the public attention was drown on the most successful policies and practices in this field and future entrepreneurs were encouraged and inspired.

Prior to receiving international recognition, the Fast-Tracking Success initiative has also received a nationwide distinction at the European Enterprise Promotion Awards 2019. The ceremony was held in the Ministry of Economy and the award to NCIZ was handed by the Deputy Minister of Economy Lachezar Borisov.