Mr. Zelenogorski, Mayor of Pleven, was a special guest to the event. He congratulated the participants and the organizers for the innovative idea and announced the beginning of the marketplace by a symbolic ring of the marketplace bell.

The marketplace event lasted for about an hour during which time numerous representatives of business and civil organisations from the town and the municipality “looked for” and “offered” various options for cooperation, made deals about exchange of goods, materials, voluntary work etc. There was one rule on the market place – no talks about money. In a symbolic competition for a biggest number of signed deals two organisations were awarded - "Import Export 2000" with Manager Mr. Velichko Velichkov from the business and the Association “Development of Personality and Human Communities” from the civil sector.

Mrs. Maria Petkova, Director of Tulip Foundation – one of the organizers of the marketplace, summarized the results at the end of the event – 40 signed contracts for cooperation at a total of 11,250 BGN. She underlined that “All participants on the marketplace – profit and non for profit organsiations win, but most of all win the people in the town of Pleven, who are the beneficiaries of the supported activities.”

The benefits for all participants at the marketplace are new partners, access to new resources and nets of contacts, opportunities for access to new customers, wider contacts with the local community, good reputation, participation in development of the local community, public recognition.

The Marketplace was organised in cooperation with Pleven Municipality and with the support of Professional High School for Catering Pleven, Professional High School for Winery Pleven and Interamerican Pleven. Open Door Centre, Pleven Public Fund Chitalishte and The Association “Development of Personality and Human Communities” contributed a lot to the successful realisation of the marketplace.

Artical in Capital newspaper. (in Bulgarian language)