INTERNET AS A NEW TOOL IN THE FIRM STRATEGY OF THE BULGARIAN EXPORT ORIENTED ENTERPRISES

This paper presents the preliminary results of the research of the Internet usage in the Bulgarian export firms. There are analyzed such problems as introduction of Internet, motivation to use it, its application and economic effects of its usage. The main goal of the current development is to present the results of a research concerning the entering and potential of the Internet technology as an instrument for overcoming barriers, connected with international activity of the Bulgarian companies. The conclusions rely on the preliminary results of the survey, conducted in the period May-September 2003. The survey covers the summarized data from 81 export orientated companies, which activities are realized in different spheres of the national economy. Respondents are companies registered in Bulgaria, which realize export activity and have an e-mail and/or firm Internet page. The selection of the researched companies is not casual and while forming the extract was searched a balance between small, medium-sized and large enterprises.