Territory – 1,019.4 sq. km.
Number of settlements - 51
Population – 176,443 people
Mayor in the period 2007 - 2011 – prof. Svetlin Tanchev
Stara Zagora is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. Archaeological research indicates the presence of civilization within this territory for 8,000 years now. From ancient times until today the city has had eight different names: Beroe, Augusta Trayana, Vereya, Irinopolis, Boruy, Eski Zagra, Zheleznik. The current name Stara Zagora was adopted by the church council in Tsarigrad in 1871.
July 31, 1877 was a memorable date in the history of Stara Zagora, when after a fierce battle the town was burned down and rased to the ground by the Ottoman army.
On October 5, 1879, the Governor of Eastern Rumelia, Aleko Bogoridi, laid a symbolic foundation stone for the reconstruction of the town. Stara Zagora was rebuilt as per the plan drafted by the Czech civil engineer Lyubor Bayer and became the first Bulgarian Post-Liberation city with contemporary urban planning.
Today Stara Zagora is one of the most beautiful and dynamically developing cities in Bulgaria. The town is an industrial and educational centre with numerous scientific and cultural institutions. Stara Zagora is a town which is both traditional and progressive.
The investment programme implemented by the Municipality of Stara Zagora in 2008 totaled BGN 23 mln. The city bus station was completely renovated. The main streets and traffic connections were repaired (e.g. Anastasyia Tosheva str., Slavyanski blvd., etc.). Some of the construction and repair works which were started in the previous year will continue in 2009 as well. Among them is the constriction of the sewerage system in the Kolyo Ganchev neighborhood. BGN 9 mln. were invested in its final stage and the completion date is July 2009. As well as the construction of the sewers, streets and sidewalks in the quarter will also be renovated.
The Municipality has applied for funding from the Regional Development Operation Programme with a project (worth BGN 10 mln.) for overall renovation and modernisation of the Western quarters Golyam Zheleznik and Malak Zheleznik. The project envisages thorough repair of the street network and replacement of the existing street lights with new energy saving bulbs in compliance with the energy efficiency requirements of the European Union. The funds will also be utilised for the enhancement of gardens and parks, and for the renovation of existing playgrounds and construction of new ones. 
An EU funded project for improving the technical infrastructure of the industrial zone in the Village of Elenino will be implemented by the Stara Zagora Municipality in 2009. The funding to be granted by the PHARE Programme amounts to BGN 1.4 mln. (exclusive of VAT). A technical project will be developed for the construction of the incoming infrastructure for the zone, the engineering infrastructure will be built and a business plan as well as a forecast analysis for the development of the zone will be elaborated. The zone covers an area of 204 decares and is one of the 17 industrial zones that are currently being constructed in the country. It is designated for companies engaged in the manufacturing industry. The Municipal Administration ensures that the zone will provide optimal business conditions for all companies, but is focused on attracting small and medium enterprises with 200 to 1,000 employees, which manufacture end products but also implement good social and environment protection programmes.
Stara Zagora attracts the investment interest of all big trade networks operating in Bulgaria. In 2008, a number of stores opened for customers, including the hypermarkets of the French network Mr. Bricolage, of the Austrian BauMax and the German Praktiker. A furniture show room AIKO with a total built-up area of 15,000 sq.m. will open in 2009. Construction of the hypermarket of the French retail chain Carrefour is also in progress. The German company Kaufland, owner of the fresh foods and household goods hypermarket chain, sustains its interest in opening shops in the town of Stara Zagora. The company has already purchased two land plots within the city.
Since the end of 2008, the trade centre 
Park Mall Stara Zagora, with a total built-up area of 30,000 sq.m, also opened for customers. Several more multifunctional, business, commercial and entertainment centres are under construction in 2009, the most noteworthy of which are Mall Stara Zagora, Mall Galleria – Stara Zagora and City Centre Stara Zagora.
The fact that large trade chains have chosen Stara Zagora for their business is proof of the high living standard of the people in the region. It is also facilitated by the established excellent business environment in the district, providing competitiveness and equal opportunities.
A priority of the Municipal Administration is to support the development of new manufacturing activities.
Examples of investment in technological modernisation include the Turkish producer of rubber gaskets for the automobile industry Standard Profil – Bulgaria AD (over BGN 2 mln.) and the Hungarian company Videoton (BGN 1 mln. invested in equipment for DZU AD). A number of local companies have also expanded and upgraded their manufacturing capacity, some of which implement successfully EU programmes aimed at supporting small and medium sized Bulgarian enterprises.
A major priority of Municipal Administration Stara Zagora is to attract new foreign investments. In reply to declared business interest, the city hall provides comprehensive information to all potential investors about the business environment, the existing infrastructure and communications, the relevant regulative framework, the labour market status, etc. The Municipal Administration has established excellent relations with the embassies of Germany, Austria, France and other countries. These favourable business conditions along with the advantageous geographic location of Stara Zagora could be a major prerequisite for minimising the negative effects of the global economic crisis and for attracting foreign investors’ interest. In 2009, the Administration will take special measures to promote the capacity of the Stara Zagora Municipality. This will be achieved by presentations at various business forums in the country and abroad, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Stara Zagora, the Regional Association of Municipalities “Trakia” and other 
organisations.
Stara Zagora Municipal Administration has partnership agreements with towns from different European countries: Samara (Russia), Larissa (Greece), Drome department (France), Radom (Poland), Edirne (Turkey), etc. The relationships with these towns will continue to develop with a focus on economic issues. The Municipal Administration also intends to collaborate with towns from EU member states and EU member candidate countries to apply for various donor programmes.
At the end of 2008, the Municipality of Stara Zagora was awarded the ISO 9001:2000 quality standard certificate (certifying body - BVQI). The quality control management system was successfully applied to the activity of the administration during the past three years. Also in the past years, the municipality’s credit rating, obtained by Standard & Poor‘s, is equal to Bulgaria’s rating. The good financial discipline and the highest possible credit rating granted to Stara Zagora are most advantageous in applying to financial institutions for favourable credit terms. In 2009, Stara Zagora Municipality expects to receive a credit of BGN 15 mln. to be utilised for funding of the planned activities of current and future projects, approved by the EU Structural Funds as well as by other donor organisations. For the implementation of these projects the administration will also rely on funding from the FLAG state fund launched at the beginning of 2009. This fund may provide financial support for activities envisioned in municipal projects within the Operational Programmes ‘Regional Development’, ‘Environment’, etc., until the approved funds from the EU budget are received. As of the beginning of 2009, the Stara Zagora Municipality has applied for subsidies from the EU Operational Programmes with projects worth of BGN 74 mln. 
BGN 4.8 mln. provided by the Regional Development Operational Programme will be utilised for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the road between the villages of Kaloyanovets and Lovets. The repair works should be completed in September 2010.
In 2009 and 2010, overall repair works of 3 creches, 4 nurseries and 2 secondary schools within the Stara Zagora municipality will be implemented through funding of BGN 5.9 mln. provided by the Regional Development Operational Programme. The renovations will include the replacement of the old electrical, water supply and sewerage systems with new ones as well as measures for achieving an energy efficiency level compliant with the EU requirements. Other planned activities are the repair and renovation of the adjoining playgrounds and the creation of an appropriate architectural environment accessible to children with physical disabilities.
Further activities to be realised with funding from the Regional Development Operation Programme (BGN 5.8 mln.) are the reconstruction and modernisation of 8 social homes for elderly people, orphans and children with disabilities, again in compliance with the EU Energy Efficiency Policies.
Another project (worth BGN 6 mln.) envisages renovation and modernisation of buildings that are part of the cultural infrastructure of the city, i.e. Geo Milev Drama Theatre and the Open Air Theatre. These, too, will be accessible to people with physical disabilities. New stage and technological equipment will be purchased to improve the technical quality of the performances.
The management of the Stara Zagora Municipality considers a future re-opening of the Stara Zagora airport as a means of enhancing regional economic development. The airport could be used for cargo transportation, but also for civil flights by small passenger airplanes. Foreign investors have also announced their interest in resuming the airport’s activity, but the projects are being delayed as the owner, i.e. the State, has not given its consent.
In 2009, the Stara Zagora municipal council will approve important documents such as a new development strategy and a new Municipal Property Management Programme. The main goal is to guarantee adequate management of the municipal property so as to earn maximum profit to be utilised in public benefit. The new documents will again be based on the underlying principle employed in 2008, namely to award contracts for sale or rental of municipal property through open tender procedures.
The Stara Zagora Municipality is one of the first in Bulgaria to elaborate clear principles and procedures for the establishment of public-private partnerships (PPP), a tool that could be of benefit to society. The legal framework for the PPP model differs for the different EU member states. On a local municipal level, it is regulated by an Ordinance compliant with the Concessions Act, the Municipal Property Act and the Territory Planning Act, which guarantees clear rules for partnerships with all private investors.
The Stara Zagora Municipality has ensured easy access to information concerning the services it provides. The information centre providing services to physical and legal persons is open all day long with extended work hours. Citizens could also take advantage of the remote tax collecting offices. The municipal administration reports higher than planned revenues from local fees and taxes for 2008. 
The Stara Zagora Municipality completed 2008 with no financial deficit and reported excellent budget realisation. The municipal budget for 2009 is drafted taking into consideration the global economic crisis. Implementation of the planned infrastructure projects should compensate for the reduced orders in the construction sector. This, along with other economic measures, will allow the Stara Zagora Municipality to keep up its 2009 economic growth and GPD per capita at considerably higher levels than the average for the country.
Tourism is another sector offering opportunities to local business to increase its profits. The Stara Zagora Municipality is part of the Trakia region and as such is a prime tourist destination on the routes presenting the culture and historical heritage of Plovdiv and the Valley of Thracian Kings near Kazanlak. It also provides plenty of opportunities for leisure and entertainment. The central geographic location of the town, along with the modern hotels built during the past three years, are prerequisites for the development of conference tourism as well. 
The opening of two cultural institutions is planned for 2009, the Opera House and the Regional History Museum, each of which could become a symbol of Stara Zagora. BGN 1 mln. will be invested in the purchase and installation of new stage mechanisation for the Opera House.
Stara Zagora hosts plenty of festivals and other cultural events. The annual Opera and Ballet Festival (April – June) has become traditional for the town. It gives opportunities to young talented artists to debut successfully on the Stara Zagora stage, while at the same time its popularity has spread beyond the boundaries of Bulgaria and is currently attracting the interest of many European theatre troupes and individual performers. A National Award for significant contribution to performance arts, named after the first lady of Bulgarian opera Hristina Morphova, is presented during the festival.
Stara Zagora has become a European stage for the puppet art theatre. The town hosts the International Puppet Theatre Festival for Adults “Pierrot” (September). The festival is a biennale of original and non-conventional theatre forms.
The Stara Zagora Art Gallery is hosting the Balkan Quadrinnale of Painting “Myths and Legends of my People” (December – January). The Gallery houses a permanent exhibition of some of Bulgaria’s greatest artists. At the same time, it is the organiser of tens of exhibits by famous and young Bulgarian and foreign artists.
The glory of Stara Zagora as a town of poets is now defended by the National Youth Poetry Contest “Vesselin Hanchev”, usually held in November. The event has 25-year history and offers a forum for poets of different generations to show their talent.
Other events of the rich cultural calendar of Stara Zagora include: the National Children’s Folklore Contest Orpheevo Izvorche (Orpheus Spring) (March), the Festival of Mask Games (September); the 24-hour Reading Marathon “Reading Stara Zagora” (23 April).
Stara Zagora Municipality
6000 Stara Zagora,
107, Tsar Simeon Veliki blvd.
Tel: 042/ 614 650; 600 554; 614 652
Fax: 042/ 601 103
e-mail:
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web: www.city.starazagora.net
