INFORMATION MATERIAL ABOUT ARTISANS – RESTRICTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ON LINE ACTIVITIES, CONNECTED WITH COVID-19 ISSUES

This information material is developed in the framework of the project Handicrafts and social economy: A driver for socially inclusive growth in the CB region" with the acronym " SocialCrafts ”under the INTERREG V-A Cooperation Program “Greece - Bulgaria 2014-2020”, ref. № 2091, Subsidy Contract № B2.9c.02/31.10.2017. The project activities are related to: improving the employment of disadvantaged people; conducting trainings for artisans, disadvantaged people, local authorities and other stakeholders; conducting Partners' meetings; development of a Joint Guide for new Work Integration Social Enterprises; establishment of a network of two CB Employment Support Centers for inclusion in traditional handicrafts that will be responsible for operating the envisioned e-Promotion activity and delivering (in house) services to traditional artisans (act as incubators) and disadvantaged persons (acting as employment and carrier centers); establishment of a fully accessible e-Promotion platform for handicrafts from the CB region. The concept of the material is to present accessible information aimed at artisans in the cross-border region Bulgaria-Greece, as a country affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The information material focuses on one hand to present the current restrictions and measures for business in the conditions of COVID-19 in relation to craft enterprises and on the other hand to present useful information on the opportunities for online activities to improve the craft business as an alternative and / or addition to an existing activity. The coronavirus and the global pandemic announced in 2020 are one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. The coronavirus is literally paralyzing the world economy, and the effects on socio-economic life cannot yet be measured. As of the last quarter of 2020, the epidemic has not subsided and therefore the crisis is expected to deepen. The economic consequences caused by COVID-19 are comparable to the financial crisis of 2008-2009. The turmoil on world stock markets is a fact, millions of people are under quarantine, millions of people have also lost their jobs, global supplies are hampered, countries and central banks are looking for appropriate measures, and the crisis has not yet been resolved. The effects of the coronavirus on local economies in Europe are strong, industries, health systems and people's livelihoods are affected. Many borders are closed for non-compulsory travel and the mobility of the average person is limited. The activity of small and medium enterprises is limited and severely hampered, which has an impact on local economies. Artisans have also been hit hard by the pandemic in view of delayed supplies of raw materials, lack of logistics, rising prices of raw materials, imposed health measures, shrinking consumption. 

Info_material_SocialCrafts_4.5.2.pdf - INFORMATION MATERIAL ABOUT ARTISANS – RESTRICTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ON LINE ACTIVITIES, CONNECTED WITH COVID-19 ISSUES