Municipality of Stara Zagora

Territory - 1,019.4 sq.km.
Number of residentiel areas - 51
Population - 178,522*
Mayor mandate 2003-2007 - Dr. Evgenyi Zhelev

6,739 companies reported activity in 2004 (nearly 60% of total number of companies in the region) in Municipality of Stara Zagora. The total output produced in 2004 is 1.26bn BGN. Total net sales revenue earned in 2004 is 2.44bn, up 23% year-on-year (1.98bn BGN NSR reported in 2004). The region features development of all economic sectors, however furniture production sector growing most rapidly in 2004, followed by machinery and equipment production, plastic production, machine building, electronics, and sewing sector.
As of early 2005, employed labour in the municipality totalled 49,677 people (46% of the regional total). Average public-sector annual salary in the municipality in 2004 was 4,285 BGN, while private sector average annual salary estimated at 2,629 BGN (32,702 employed in the sector, 65.8% of the total employed).
The Stara Zagora Municipal Development Plan 2005-2013 was adopted in 2005. The strategic vision for municipal development is formulated as follows: turning municipality into an administrative, cultural and university centre of Trakia, with developed high-technology local industry and agriculture, clean environment and high standard of living of the local residents. As a major strategic goal the Plan sets the attainment of sustainable economic growth and the closing of gap with the EU-average living standards. The Municipality of Stara Zagora has received a BB credit rating with stable growth outlook, which is level with the rating the capital city Sofia has received. The rating was awarded by the S&P's international credit agency in 2004.
On Oct 3, 2005 the Municipality of Stara Zagora was awarded a certificate for integrating a quality management system in compliance with ISO 9001:2000. The auditing procedure was conducted by the international certifying company Moody International, while accredited by the Germany's accreditation agency (DAR-TGA).
The Municipality of Stara Zagora received the one-year re-issued Municipality Ready for Business certificate, which is an internationally recognized certificate that provides yet another proof for municipality's well-planned and well-targeted activity in local economic development; local business support and provision of effective new business opportunities. The certificate also acknowledges the good own resource utilization and marketing in municipality, as well as the professional provision of services suffice to investor demands - both foreign and domestic.
The Municipality of Stara Zagora partook in project called Local Economic Development and Bulgarian Municipality Marketing funded by USAID. In addition, the Municipality of Stara Zagora presented Bulgaria during the big, century-long Christmas bazaar in the heart of Europe, Strasbourg, in December 2005, with many products from regional companies having been offered there. The city of Stara Zagora is among the 20 founding cities of the Strasbourg Club of big cities from EU member and applicant countries from CEE, and is the single member city having taken part in all club projects so far. Furthermore, the city of Stara Zagora is going to establish its own representative office in Brussels in 2006, which should provide feedback information and thus directly benefiting local business.
The city of Stara Zagora has been the only one city in the country over the past 20 years to have developed and adopted (at end-2005) a new Urban Organisational Plan and a Transport and Communication Scheme. Both documents comply with market economy that calls for the creation of new economic zones, taking account of the construction of the new Trakia motorway as well. The new 18 km-long section of the motorway running west of the city will be opened in June 2006, while the motorway itself is expected to reach the city outskirts by August 2007. Pursuant to municipal council decision, a new industrial zone in eastern part of the city was set up, offering free space in total of 150 dca for high-technology research and development (electronics, machine and appliances building, medical equipment). The airport near Stara Zagora is yet another locus of interest for municipal administration. A request has been filed for airport's ownership transfer, for the municipal administration to be able to resume airport`s operation, mainly as cargo freight airport.
In 2005, the Municipality of Stara Zagora issued a 5mn BGN bond emission, bearing an annual coupon interest of 6% over the next 10 years. The T-bills were purchased in full at first auctioning, which implies municipality's stable credit standing. The proceeds thereof will be invested in the course of 2006, mainly in shaping up city's traditional cultural outlook and in the reconstruction of historical sites and renovation of city street lights.
In 2005, the Municipality of Stara Zagora was extended a loan, with proceeds thereof used for city street reconstruction. In addition, renovation of pavements, setting up new park and recreation areas were all done in 2005 under various projects and programs. New parking lots were opened as well, that should suffice to increased demand, with number of cars in the city estimated at some 100,000.
The works featuring the construction of new housing and industrial buildings as well hotels and offices has continued apace in both the municipality and the city of Stara Zagora, in particular. Furthermore, the construction of 4 new market chains will be launched in 2006. The market chains will sell home appliances, construction material and food, and will also accommodate a brand new cinema and fast-food complex.
Under SAPARD programme, the Municipality of Stara Zagora implemented a project, worth 300,000 BGN for forestation of 500 dca of deserted land in areas near the Ayazmo park, namely at the Virgin Marry Step in Stara Zagora Spa, as well as in villages nearby.
A new municipal tourist and information centre was opened in Stara Zagora in October 2005. The center will provide information on cultural as well as historical sight-seeing and museums, on various bed, recreation, food and entertainment places, sports and tourism facilities in the city.
The city of Stara Zagora is turning an attracting locus for international tourism opportunities, owing to its favourable infrastructure, its European outlook and style, and its 8,000-year ancient history (being one of the oldest on the continent). The Bereketska Mound, which is the largest prehistoric settlement in Bulgaria (dating back to the New Stone Age of VII-VI millennium B.C.), the Azmashka Mound, and the best preserved in Europe Neolithic dwellings are all sites of pre-historical uniqueness that could be found in Stara Zagora. In addition, ancient copper mines, the oldest in Europe (V millennium B.C.) were found just 8 kilometres of the city. The Municipality of Stara Zagora is situated very close to the Valley of Thracian Rulers, wherein unique ornaments of gold and other world-prominent artifacts were recently found.
The rich cultural event schedule in Stara Zagora is also attracting attention, the main focus having the Festival of Opera and Ballet Art and Lynden Tree Days, cheering one of the city symbols.
With the highest net sales revenue earned among companies in the municipality that reported activity in 2004 are Elektrorazpredelenie EAD, Stara Zagora (the power distribution company), Zagorka AD, GU - Faraday EOOD, Kalvacha Gas AD, Rhythm - 4 - TB EOOD, Gradus 1 OOD, Biser Oliva AD, PSI AD. With the highest profit earned in 2004 are Elektrorazpredelenie EAD, Stara Zagora, Zagorka AD, DZU AD, KEN AD, Rhythm - 4 - TB EOOD, GU - Faraday EOOD, Sredna gora AD, and Media systems AD.
Municipality of Stara Zagora
Stara Zagora 6000
+359 42 614614, 600554
+ 359 42 601103, 601540