General information and infrastructure
Territory - 688.7 sq. km
Number of population centers - 52
Population -70,606
Administrative center - Targovishte city
Targovishte Municipality is located in northeastern Bulgaria, on the border between the Danube Plain and the Fore-Balkan area. The closeness of Targovishte to Bulgaria's border points Varna (110 km away) and Rousse (100 km away) as well as to Veliko Turnovo makes it a natural strategic cross point. There is convenient road connection to southern Bulgaria through Kotel town. The central road thoroughfares are of length 78 kilometres out of 1,144 km in Targovishte District. There is a railway station lying on the route Sofia - Gorna Oryahovitsa - Varna. 13 km away from Targovishte lies Targovishte Airport, which is not in operation at present.
Economy and business
6,251 companies have been registered in Targovishte Municipality. Most of them are traditional industrial enterprises. The leading branches of industry are: foodstuffs industry; soft and hard drinks production; service repair of automobiles and household appliances; manufacture of electrical machinery and equipment; tailoring industry; lumbering and woodworking. There are 9 companies owned by the municipality. The companies of greatest importance for the development of the municipality are: Energia AD, a producer of batteries; Bottling Company OOD; LVK Vinprom Targovishte, wine production; Mizia - Milk, processing of dairy products, a holder of certificate for export to EU; Mebel Stil, furniture manufacturer; Bozhur, Yai Mod and Dzheteka, tailored goods manufacturers. A morello cherry garden spreading over an area of 45,000 sq. m has been planted. Agro 2000 grows fruit trees and raspberry plants. A modern enterprise for meat processing and freezing of fruit and vegetables is under construction. The traditional spring fair called Targovishte Exhibition is instrumental for the development of the region. Farming is among the main industries taking up 11 per cent of the overall production activities. The main crops in the output are barley, corn, wheat, sunflower seed, fruit, vegetables, meat and milk. The land is farmed by 41 cooperatives, 8 agricultural companies and 14 tenant farmers. The only producer of leaf fertilizers for crops in Bulgaria is located in the municipality.
Strategic projects and opportunities for foreign investments
Priority projects: Construction of the city waste water treatment plant; conversion to natural gas of the residential users in the city. A light-saving energy efficiency project for the lighting of the city and local villages has been completed. The municipality is working on modern ways of collecting, transportation and disposal of waste. A project for the reconstruction of the water supply network in Targovishte has been designed. The interest of investors is attracted by unoccupied municipal terrains and their prospective use for the construction of food producing and other industrial enterprises. The implementation of a joint Bulgarian-Dutch project for the production of decorative roses is forthcoming. The Turkish investor Shishejam has started the construction of two plants for flat household glass.
Natural sights and monuments of culture
There are 151 monuments of culture and 907 archeological sites in the area. The number of natural sights under protection is 31. Six of them are tourist sites. Places of interest are the rock figure Konya (the Horse), the fields of Urumov Tulip, the castle walls of Kroumovo Kale Castle. In the village of Cherkovna an apse basilica dating back to 13-11 c. AD has been discovered. The wooden circular chancel-screen makes St. Ivan Rilski Temple unique. The temple holds the tomb of the New York metropolitan bishop Andrei, the benefactor of Targovishte.
Environmental Protection and Tourism
The hunting and hiking area of the municipality occupies 3 sq. km. The forests belonging to a resort take up 170,000 sq.m in the Boaza Area. Due to the healing properties of the famous Targovishte mineral water a balneology resort has been built. The clean countryside and the presence of a number of lakes are a prerequisite for the development of rural tourism, hiking, wine tourism and fishing.
Associations, memberships, twin-cities and partnerships
Targovishte Municipality is a member of the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, whose BOD Chairman is the Mayor of Targoviste, Dr. Krasimir Mirev. The municipality is also a member of the National Bulgarian City Secretaries' Association.The association has been granted the Golden Star Award by the EU for improving the interaction of European towns by means of joint projects. International contacts with the following towns have been establsihed: Cottbus, Germany; Surain, France, Santa Maria de Feira, Portugal; Kosani, Greece; Targovishte, Romania, Smolensk, Russia.
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Bulgarian
