Smolyan district

Smolyan District is located in Southern Bulgaria and is located in the central part of the Rhodopes on a territory of 3,192.9 sq. Km or 2.9% of the country's territory. It has a common border with the districts of Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Kardzhali and Blagoevgrad, and to the south the regional border coincides with the state border with the Hellenic Republic. The altitude of the district is from 450 to 2,191 m. On the territory of Smolyan region there are 10 municipalities - Banite, Borino, Devin, Dospat, Zlatograd, Madan, Nedelino, Rudozem, Smolyan and Chepelare, with 242 settlements, 8 of which are cities. According to data from the National Statistical Institute, as of 31.12.2015 the population of the district is 111,601 people. The population density is about 35 people per sq. Km.

Economy

In Smolyan district, as in other districts of Bulgaria, and in most EU member states, small and medium enterprises are of structural importance for the economy and are a major driver of economic growth. Enterprises with staff up to 9 employees have the largest relative share in the regional economy - 92.3% of all enterprises in 2015. Small enterprises (from 10 to 49 employees) are 6.4%, those with staff between 50 and 249 employees -1.0% and large enterprises with over 250 employees - 0.3%. Leading in the economy of the district are the companies from the sector "Manufacturing", in which 50.5% of the production is created. The relative share of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sector is 10.4%, of the Construction sector - 10.0%, of the Mining and quarrying sector - 6.8% and of Transport, storage and post offices - 6.7% of the production in the district. The strengths of the local economy are:

availability of natural resources - ore, mineral water, forest areas;
availability of vacant lands for development of investment activity;
availability of free labor

The municipality of Banite is tucked away in the heart of the Rhodope Mountains. In its northern part the mountain range proudly raises its strength until 2001 with the peaks Prespa and Svoboda and the vast pasture Karakulas. To the south, the slopes descend to a sea of lower peaks and hills with wide rounded ridges, overgrown with beautiful pine and deciduous forests. Healing mineral water gushes at the foot of the slopes, and in the lowest the river Malka Arda gently flows and collects the waters of the mountain rivers and streams to flow into the river Arda.

Economy

The textile industry has a prevailing share in the economy of the municipality.

Borino Municipality is located in the southwestern part of the Rhodope Massif in Smolyan District, South Central Planning Region. It borders the Hellenic Republic to the south, the municipality of Devin to the east, the municipality of Batak to the north and the municipality of Dospat to the west. The relief is mountainous with an altitude of 1050 to 1600 m.

Economy

The main branches in the municipality are agriculture and animal husbandry. Agriculture is oriented towards potato production, which is an important livelihood for the population. Livestock is well developed. Borino Municipality offers good opportunities for raising sheep and cows, given the presence of grazing. The category of the road network in the municipality is low. First and second class roads are missing.\ The favorable climate, the ecologically clean environment and the natural resources are a prerequisite for the development of tourism. The diversity in the relief of the municipality, in combination with the soil and climatic conditions are a good prerequisite for the development of logging and wood processing, tourism, food, textile industry and others. The main resource is the presence of coniferous wood.

Devin Municipality is located in the central, highest parts of the Western Rhodope subregion. Its territory occupies mainly the deep valley of the river Vacha and represents 17.83% of the territory of Smolyan region. It borders the municipalities of Smolyan, Borino, Batak, Krichim, Perushtitsa, Chepelare and the Hellenic Republic. The municipal center - Devin is located amphitheatrically in the valley of the same name at 684 meters above sea level. It has an area of 575 sq. Km. and is one of the ten constituent municipalities of Smolyan district.

Economy

The operating enterprises on the territory of the municipality are in the field of logging and wood processing, construction, light and food industry, electronics, machine building and others. Successful public-private partnerships are implemented in accordance with the principles of the market economy. They are expressed in the provision of vacant municipal land and building stock for the establishment of industrial enterprises and the implementation of hotel and restaurant activities, leasing of municipal sites, etc. The municipality has free municipal lands and sites suitable for the development of trade, production and tourism.

Dospat municipality is located in the southwestern part of the Rhodopes and administratively falls in Smolyan district. To the south the municipality borders with the Hellenic Republic, to the east with the municipality of Devin, to the north with the municipality of Batak, and to the west with the municipality of Satovcha. The municipality includes one town Dospat and 7 villages. The territory is defined as a high mountain border area. The municipality is part of the South Central Planning Region.

Economy

Dospat Municipality occupies one of the leading positions in the economy of Smolyan District. It concentrates over 15% of the economic potential of the district. The economy of the town of Dospat and the municipality is mainly focused on tourism, light industry and agriculture. The main activities are potato production, animal husbandry, dairy processing, logging, wood processing, fish farming, fish processing, knitwear production and footwear production. The last three years have seen the creation of biologically pure massifs that are certified - organically grown mainly herbs, chokeberries and raspberries. Livestock is developed mainly by individual animal owners and can be referred to as so-called "small livestock". The fish farming and fish processing sector occupies an important place in the economy sector, due to the proximity of the second largest and cleanest dam in the country - Dospat Dam. In the economic branches of the processing industry are presented the branches: Garment industry, Textile industry, Logging and wood processing, Construction, Furniture production, Food industry, etc. In the municipality of Dospat, several furniture manufacturers and over 100 sawmills build the main part of the economic image. The economic picture in the municipality is complemented by textile and knitwear production.

Zlatograd is one of the southernmost municipalities in Bulgaria. Its border to the south coincides with the state border of Bulgaria with Greece. The altitude of the municipality is from 385 to 1118 m, and the town of Zlatograd is the lowest settlement in it - 420-550 m. The relief is mountainous. The Varbitsa River passes through the territory of the municipality. Two dams have been built - Zlatograd Dam and Hasidere Micro Dam. There are rich deposits of lead-zinc ore, as well as the geothermal deposit of hot mineral water in the Ermorechie.

Madan Municipality is located in the southeastern part of the Western Rhodopes on the banks of the Madanska River. The average altitude is 700 m and falls in the continental Mediterranean climate area. Low mountain and hilly terrains prevail, and the valley slopes have significant slopes. Madan Municipality is part of the Xanthi pluton of the Rila-Rhodope massif with predominant high-crystalline series and is rich in ore and non-ore minerals.

Economy

The sectors of greater importance for the municipality are:

Mining sector
The light industry is represented by:
Production and trade
Woodworking
Food industry
Construction and transport

Nedelino municipality is located in the southeastern part of Smolyan district and covers a terrain with strongly rugged mountain - forest relief. The town of Nedelino is located in the valley of the Uzundere River. To the south the municipality borders with Zlatograd, to the east with Kirkovo, Djebel and Ardino from Kardzhali district and to the north - with Madan. The average altitude is 400-500 m.

Economy

370 business entities are registered in the municipality, and 86% of their capital is privately owned. Revenues come mainly from the trade and transport sectors, and the weakest are revenues from industry. The main income of the population is formed by economic activity in the field of light industry and agriculture. The light industry is represented mainly by the sewing industry. There are over 15 sewing workshops on the territory of the municipality, and 120-150 workers work in the larger ones. The agricultural fund covers 28,880 decares. The arable lands in the municipality are 10,000 decares. The main crops that are grown due to the particularly favorable climatic and geographical features are tobacco and potatoes. Nedelino is one of the leading municipalities in the region for the production of oriental tobacco. In the riparian valleys there are conditions for vegetable production. The forest fund covers 72,795 decares, of which 19,741 are occupied by deciduous forests, and the coniferous ones are located on 46,642 decares. The forests are a strategic reserve of almost all economic activities in the municipality - tourism, logging and wood processing, hunting and fishing, cultivated cultivation and processing of herbs, mushrooms and berries. Opportunities are being sought for the implementation of activities related to additional afforestation of forest terrains. Logging and wood processing, textile industry and tourism are the industries with the greatest potential for development in the municipality. The main priorities in the development of Nedelino, according to the Municipal Development Plan, are the programs: "Transport infrastructure"; "Tourism"; "Ecoprojects"; "Logging and wood production"; "Employment and human resources development"; "Industrial Development"; "Development of tobacco production and potato production"; "Institutional Development".

Rudozem Municipality is located in the southeastern parts of the Western Rhodopes, along the valley of the rivers Arda, Chepinska and Elhovska. The average altitude is 765 m. The relief includes flat mountain ridges, wooded slopes, vast meadows and meadows, which gradually descend to valleys and river valleys.

Economy

In recent years, mining and processing of polymetallic deposits has given way. The strategic industries at the moment are the chemical industry / in particular the cosmetic /, the garment, construction, food, wood and wood processing industries. The huge reserves of rhyolite slabs, marble and tail sand are also of interest. Herbal processing, although unconventional, is a promising industry for the region. Almost all types of essential oils grow from thyme, oregano, yarrow, St. John's wort, lavender, calendula, sage and others. Flax, hemp, etc. grow from technical crops. Wild fruits - raspberry, strawberry, blackberry, chokeberry, blueberry and others.

Smolyan Municipality is located in the central part of the Rhodopes in southern Bulgaria. The territory has a mountainous terrain, with an abundance of coniferous forests and pastures. The average altitude is about 1000 m. The Rhodope relief is a combination of high ridges, separated by deep river valleys.

Economy

Leading the economy of the Municipality of Smolyan are light industry (enterprises for the production of bread and bakery products, meat and dairy processing, clothing companies and textile enterprises). The wood and wood processing industries, the production of cables and wires, tooling, high-polymer products and garden furniture, metal-cutting machines, as well as the production of plastic products and parts for the automotive industry are also well represented. About 2,000 companies with relatively low productivity are registered in the Municipality of Smolyan, and the unemployment rate is above the national average (16.3%). At the same time, the municipality of Smolyan is an important trade and tourist center and occupies a leading position in the economy of the district. More than 80% of the economic potential is concentrated here and more than 2/3 of the district's revenues are realized. Trade has the highest economic indicators, followed by tourism and services. With regard to the agricultural sector, the region is not agricultural and is not suitable for the development of intensive agriculture. Agricultural land is highly fragmented and not used effectively, which is one of the obstacles to the development of the industry. The main volume of agricultural production is aimed at meeting the needs of producers, and the realized surpluses - for sale, mainly at retail.

Chepelare Municipality is located in the central part of the Rhodopes, along the upper reaches of the Chepelare River. Chepelare Municipality is located in the Middle Rhodopes, in the upper reaches of the Chepelare River and falls in the Smolyan region, South Central region, at an average altitude of 1150 meters. The town of Chepelare is located 230 km. from the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, 80 km. from Plovdiv and 22 km. from the regional center of Smolyan. The town is located in close proximity to the internationally famous resort Pamporovo, which for the most part is located in the municipality. The climate is mild continental, 270 sunny days are set during the year. The snow cover lasts a relatively long time, between 80 and 120 days, with an average thickness for January and February of 30 - 80 cm.

Economy

The main economic sectors in the municipality of Chepelare are tourism, forestry, sports equipment production and processing industry. The forestry and the forest industry are well developed and together with the tourism are among the priorities in the economy of the municipality. Just over 70% of the forests are private, organized in cooperatives and companies. Forests with wood production and environment-forming functions predominate. They occupy 53% of the total forest area.