Sofia, January 12 (BTA) - Prime Minister Kiril Petkov held an online meeting on January 11 with the leaders of the five nationally representative employers' organizations: the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association (BICA), the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB) and the Union for Private Economic Enterprise (UPEE), as well as representatives of the leadership of the Bulgarian Association of Metallurgical Industry, the press service of the Council of Ministers said on Wednesday.      

The talks focused on energy prices and options for the state to help businesses overcome the price jump, and on the most adequate ways to distribute the support. The government's new approach to responding to the health crisis, which is based on maximum practicality and equality, was also discussed. The aim is to keep businesses running, without ignoring the potential danger to human life and health from the overburdening of the health system, the government's press service said.    

The Prime Minister said that the government will help, and work for the most effective redistribution of the value created by businesses. He stressed that the cabinet will serve businesses, not the other way around. In his opinion, the goal of zero corruption is achievable only with the combined efforts of businesses and the Council of Ministers. He also called for thoroughness in the investigation of all corruption signals that reach both employers' organizations and the cabinet. "Progress and change in our economy depend only on our joint actions and continuous and good dialogue," PM Petkov concluded during the meeting.

VE/MT