December 19 (SeeNews) - The main concerns of Bulgarian managers next year will be related to higher energy prices, tax and regulatory burdens, and shortage of skilled workforce, a recent survey shows.
"More than half of the participants expect a rise in energy and commodity prices, as well as a rise in fiscal and regulatory burdens in 2018," the Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) says in its survey conducted among 790 managers in the country between November 10 and December 10.
The managers said that they feel moderately optimistic about Bulgaria's economic climate in 2018. In their opinion, the business environment has slightly improved in 2017.
Most expansion plans of Bulgarian managers are related to increasing production volumes, development of new products and finding new markets.
About 40% of managers expect that employment will increase next year, while 23% are of the opposite opinion and 33% don't expect any change to occur in 2018. About 5% did not answer the question.