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Geographic location: Zlatograd municipality is sread on a territory of 175.8 sq. km. It has common borders with the municipalities of Kirkovo and Dzhebel (to the east), Nedelino (to the north), Madan and Rudozem (to the west) and with the Republic of Greece (to the south) - on the borderline between Bulgaria and Greece).
Relief: mountainous;
Climate: The municipality is included in the transient-Mediterranean climate region.
Mineral resources: lead-zinc ore;
Water resources: The territory of the municipality is crossed by Varbitza river which is 98.1 km long and its catchment basin is 1202.8 km. Nedelinska and Kushlenska rivers are tributaries of Varbitza. There is a dam lake called "Zlatograd" with water capacity of 4,4.106 m. and a micro dam lake called "Hasidere" (0,4.106 m).
Soils: maroon forest leached (9,758.9 hectares); brown forest-dark (1,175.7 hectares); brown forest-transient (8337.1 hectares); brown forest light (11,758.9 hectares); alluvial-delluvial (5.9 hectares); humus-carbonate (1,107 hectares);
Forest Fund: It covers an area of 144,595 decares. The following species like beech, hornbeam, oak, birch and cornel-tree are mostly spread among the broad-leaved forests. Prevailing coniferous trees are spruce, fir-tree, white and black pine.
Environment: There is a tailings pond called "Erma Reka" which is 8 km away from the town of Zlatograd and 5 km away from the village of Erma Reka. The municipality is rich in underground resources. In the surroundings of Erma Reka there is a geothermal deposit of hot mineral water.
Population and settlements: The total number of population is 14,874 (7,285 males and 7,589 females) citizens, most of them living in the town of Zlatograd (8,444) and the villages of Startzevo and Erma reka (the total number of village population is 6,430). The municipality comprises Zlatograd and 9 more settlements.
Labour force and unemployment: The rate of unemployment is 32.64 %, which is the highest since 1990. The active population is 8,063 citizens of whom 50,97 % are employed in the public sector and 49.03 % in the private sector.
Agricultural Fund: It covers 25,346 decares and the arable land is 11,840 decares. The cultures grown in the municipality are tobacco, potatoes, vegetables and strawberries (representatives of perennial plants).
Structure determining branches and operating companies: The extraction of lead-zinc ore was the main branch in the municipality until 1998. Clothing industry is well developed, while the capacity of companies processing dairy products is considerably less. Construction is represented mainly by private companies. The only one municipal company is being privatized. Private companies are occupied in wood processing. The largest enterprise "Gorubso-Zlatograd" JSC, which operates on the territory of the municipality is to be liquidated. It is specialized in the extraction of lead-zinc ore. The enterprise "Belotex"AD manufactures raw cotton fabrics for sport and work clothes, household linen, medical and technical fabrics, has been privatized by workers-managers team. The machine-tools plant "ZMM" EAD-Zlatograd (privately owned joint stock company) is included in the list of mass privatization and for the time being it uses the minimum of its capacity. It produces sets, equipment and meetings for machine tools. The companies engaged in clothing industry are private. The leading companies are "Svoboda-97" AD, "SBN" - Violeta Beshirova, "Bultex" Ltd., the sole trader ET "Chilingstil", etc. In the sphere of construction 10 private companies are in operation. Among them are the one-man companies ET "Krassimir Chipichev" and ET "Victor Vultchev".
There are branches of two big construction companies- "Minstroy" AD - municipality of Zlatograd and "Lozenetz Consult - Zlatograd" Ltd. The company "Bulgartabak"-Smolyan opened a workshop in the municipality, which is a unit specialized in tobacco processing, and this unit is to be privatized as well. There are several operating companies in the sphere of wood processing, of which the best operating are ET "Zora-Mitko Chaushev", "Rozhen" EAD, ET "Rosy", etc. Trade services are offered by private companies, dealing mainly with restaurant and hotel activities.
Budget: By September 2000 the municipal budget amounted to 3,422,320 levs of which 1,341,500 were own incomes and 2,080,820 - state subsidy.
Infrastructure:
- Roads. The prevailing roads are of 4th class. The road coverage is depreciated and in many places it has to be repaired or reconstructed adding new facilities.
- Water-supply. The water-supply of Zlatograd town is provided by a pumping station, pressure water-main and reservoirs. The problems with the depreciated water-main are prerequisites for damages. The water supply of the settlements is not enough.
Education and professional qualification: There are 6 children's houses, 4 secondary schools and 4 high schools.
Healthcare: There is a Multi Profile Hospital for Active Cure, an Emergency Center, a medical center and 3 pharmacies.
International contacts: The municipality has established traditional relationships with the municipality of Hrissupolis, Greece, and a protocol for collaboration was signed in 1994. The main objective of this collaboration is to exchange ideas, experience and contacts between the local authorities.
Current programs and projects: Several programs are being realized as part of the economic development strategy of the Zlatograd municipality. Such programs are an Eco-program, Program of Employment, Program of Waste Management, Program "Transport infrastructure", Program for practical application of European Charter. Several other projects are being implemented and they are financed by the National Fund of Environment Protection, the Foundation of Local Government Reform within the project "Model of Partnership for Prosperity of Zlatograd Municipality and Presentation before Neighbour Municipalities". Regional Initiatives Fund financed two projects - "Supporting Wall"(in the village of Erma reka) and "Reservoirs" in the village of Dolen.
Future priorities:
- rapid privatization of national objects;
- stimulation of the development of private sector;
- revival of traditions and crafts;
- construction and development of infrastructure;
- stimulation of agriculture and tobacco output;
- maintenance of cross border co-operation;
Non-governmental organizations operating on the territory of the municipality: There are 6 cultural clubs- "Prosveta", "Orfei", "Progress", "Iskra", "Svetlina" and "Napreduk", a Municipal Center for Cares of Children, etc.
Contacts:
4980 ZLATOGRAD
Smolyan region
1 "Stefan Stambolov" str.
Tel: 03071/ 25 51
Fax: 03071/ 40 23
e-mail: zlatograd@unacs.bg
irep_zl@infotel.bg
Mayor: Miroslav Janchev |
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