July 2000

Update: Bulgaria

In the second quarter of 2000 (April – June), a more substantial increase of the Web sites of primary and secondary schools in Bulgaria took place. There were no major changes in the other observed sectors. The hospitals / clinics and especially the libraries are still with the lowest Web presence. The relatively big number of such establishments in the country (7283 libraries and 3610 ambulatory/ polyclinics) is the main reason for the low percentage of the total Web penetration shown below.

In the national Web activities as a whole, according to a study of CBN, 24 % of the Top 100 companies in Bulgaria have had, at the end of 1999, their own maintained and advertised Web site. It is worth mentioning the growing number of Web sites focused on e-Commerce including virtual commercial centers and virtual Web shops. Two international events on e-Commerce took place in Bulgaria during the last two months:

• Business through Internet was the topic of an international conference organised by the Bulgarian Industrial Association on May 12th-13th;

• The Southeastern Europe e-Commerce Forum (June 2nd-3rd) hosted by the Applied Research and Communications Fund was focused on e-commerce as a driving force of economic growth and society development. Policy-makers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and researchers from the Balkan countries, the European Union, and the United States attended the Forum.

Undoubtedly, both events will have an impact on further developments of the e-Commerce and relevant Web based activities in Bulgaria.

(1) Data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI) refers to the1999 and to the 1999/2000 school year.

(2) Study was carried out between June 8th – 20th 2000.

(3) 276 Health establishments from which 193 hospitals, 3610 ambulatory – polyclinics.