Despite the global financial crisis, Kazanlak Municipality is one of the most dynamically developing municipalities in Bulgaria. Good results have been achieved in utilizing European funding. A number of projects have been implemented not only in the town of Kazanlak, but in the smaller settlements within the municipality. In terms of investments attracted, Kazanlak ranks among the top Bulgarian municipalities. A lot has been done in the areas of infrastructure, education, health care, social activities, culture and tourism. Large-scale projects have been implemented in Kazanlak by foreign investors thanks to the municipal administration’s efforts to attract companies like City Gas, which constructed the town’s gas distribution network with extensions to other settlements within the municipality.
Kalvatcha Investment is planning to invest in the construction of a golf complex and an airport. The investment is worth EUR 70 mln. in total.
In 2009, Vetrokom EOOD, a subsidiary of the Swiss company ALPIQ, started the construction of a wind power generation park. The investment is worth EUR 170 mln.
The Bulgarian – German company BCI is going to invest EUR 200 mln. in the construction of a photovoltaic system on the territory of the villages Yasenovo, Cherganovo and Golyamo Dryanovo.
At the end of 2009, Promet Safe, a manufacturer of safes and metal furniture, opened a factory with foreign investments worth BGN 14 mln.
A store of the hypermarket chain Kaufland opened its doors to customers in Kazanlak. The new trade centre “Iztok” is also operating successfully. The Technopolis chain has also expressed interest in opening a store in Kazanlak. The Kazanlak based company Peshtostroene is currently reconstructing a hotel complex comprising the hotel-restaurants Palace and Zornitsa, and the entertainment park Bulgaran.
During the past few years the Municipal Administration of Kazanlak renovated entirely the downtown areas Sevtopolis and Vidin Daskalov squares. A new modern railway station square by the name of Europe was also constructed.
The railway station itself and the road to the Kazanlak Thracian Tomb were reconstructed. A new city park was established in Vasil Levski quarter. Three bridges were repaired and the street lightning was significantly improved. Since 2004, over 75 streets in the town of Kazanlak and in other settlements within the municipality were reconstructed, renovated or paved with asphalt. The road network was also reconstructed. In 2009, the Municipal Administration of Kazanlak invested a total of BGN 1.1 mln. in the above listed activities.
Kazanlak Municipality was among the first municipalities in Bulgaria to implement projects funded by the EU Pre-accession and Structural Funds. Since 2004, these projects (including external funding) are worth BGN 7 mln. in total. Sevtopolis Square, the nearby streets and Iskra Chitalishte (Community Centre) were reconstructed through funding provided by the Beautiful Bulgaria Project, the PHARE Programme, the Energy Efficiency Fund, etc. Over BGN 500,000 were invested in the Valley of the Thracian Kings.
A number of schools and kindergardens were equipped with gas installations and connected to the gas distribution network. Two social homes for elderly people were also reconstructed.
Kazanlak Municipal Administration continues its efforts to attract foreign investors. The construction works of several social institutions are being implemented with such funding. Activities within the project ‘Kazanlak - Clean and Friendly City’ are in progress related to development of the tourist attractions in the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Construction works on projects aimed at improving the infrastructure on the territory of the Kazanlak municipality are also ongoing. These include the ‘Integrated water project of Kazalak municipality. Stage 1: Construction of sewerage network, reconstruction of water-supply and road network of Hristo Botev quarter and construction of sewage pumping station and pressure collector, Ovoshtnik village’. The project is realized with funds provided under Operational Programme Environment, the EU Cohesion Fund and national co-financing. The overall project cost is BGN 6.4 mln. of which the grant amounts to BGN 6.1 mln.
Supported by Kazanlak Municipal Adminsitration, the villages of Rozovo, Srednogorovo, Cherganovo, Koprinka and Sheinovo were granted BGN 10,000 each under projects within the Clean Environment Campaign.
The Kazanlak municipality attracts the equivalent of BGN 2.0 to 3.0 from EU donor programmes per each BGN 1.0 of local funding. During the past years, the municipality realised an annual economic growth rate of 16% - 17%, which ranks it among the most dynamically developing municipalities in Bulgaria.
Kazanlak Municipality has a rich cultural and historical heritage. A major priority of the municipal administration policy is to convert the region into a national cultural and historical centre. Activities aimed at preserving and displaying the main artifacts found in the Thracian Tomb of king Seuth III have been implemented. Currently, these antiques are on display in Iskra Historical Museum in Kazanlak, in a special exposition room and a repository for unique relics of Thracian art.
The project Valley of the Thracian Kings has been developed with the aim of making the Thracian tombs accessible to tourists from Bulgaria and from abroad and a total of BGN 5 mln. are allocated for this project. The Municipal Administration is the organiser of Kazanlak’s traditional celebrations – the Rose Festival, Days of Thracian Culture and Chudomir Days, which attract many Bulgarian and foreign visitors and tourists.
In 2009, the Mayor of Kazanlak Mr. Stefan Damyanov initiated a major step towards enhancing the work of the local government and increasing the citizens’ involvement in it. A Public Council for Local Government was established that cooperates with Kazanlak Municipal Administration. There are six public councils within the territory of the town and citizens from various parts of Kazanlak can make their own suggestions to the local government through them. In response to citizens’ signals about certain problems, measures have been taken to improve the urban structure of several town quarters, including renovation of children’s playgrounds, improvement of intraquarter lighting, planting green areas, etc.
Kazanlak has established traditional relations with twin towns as follows: Saint Herblain, in France; Targoviste in Romania; Nagykanizsa in Hungary; Tolyatti in Russia; Veria in Greece; Kocani in Macedonia. In 2010, thanks to its close relations with Grasse, the capital of the French perfume industry, Kazanlak will take part in the international exhibition Expo Rose 2010, dedicated to the Kazanlak oil-bearing rose.
