Municipality of Gourkovo

Area - 292.2 sq.km.
Number of residentiel areas - 11
Population - 5,522 citizens
Mayor 2003-2007 Stoyan Bonev

96 companies reported activity in the municipality of Gurkovo in 2004. Total output produced is worth 17.63mn BGN. Total net sales revenue earned in 2004 is in the amount of 26.51mn BGN, up 37% year-on-year (19.37mn BGN net sales revenue reported in 2004).

Wood production and sale are the most important local sectors, as 80% of local area is forest. The municipality is turning an attracting locus for tourism, game shooting and fishing as well. Companies producing metal packaging for food industry have reported good growth. In addition, essential oil, wood-processing and environmental milk production sectors are all developing equally well.

As of early 2005, employed labour in the municipality totalled 1,160 people. Average public-sector annual salary in 2004 was 2,653 BGN, while private-sector average annual salary estimated at 2,201 BGN (727 employed in the sector, 62.7% of the total employed).

Major long-term development goal of the Municipality of Gurkovo is the creation of conditions favourable for sustainable development, gaining from the important crossroad transport and communication location of the municipality and the natural and anthropogenic resource endowment and potential.

Two strategic goals are envisaged in the updated Municipal Development Plan 2000-2006:

· Creating conditions favourable for local resource-based economic development, aimed to achieve sustained employment trend and reduction of the number of unemployed
· Improving living conditions and quality of living.

In 2005, the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SACD) funded a number of projects in the municipality aimed to create e-library at schools and improve public infrastructure, including parks, school areas and other public places. A project aimed to improve the urban infrastructure and rehabilitate sewage system in Gurkovo was implemented under the Social Investment Fund as well.


With the highest net sales revenue earned among companies in the municipality that reported activity in 2004 are Bulmetal OOD and Bulmetal Trading EOOD. With the highest profit earned in 2004 are Bulmetal Trading EOOD, Askent - Plamen Penchev ET, Metalik AD, Tundzha - 94 Agriculture Cooperative, and Bulgarplastik EOOD.

Municipality of Gourkovo

Gourkovo 6199

+359 4331/ 2260

+359 4331/ 2884

E-mail: gurkovo_obs@abv.bg

gurkovo@starazagora.net