The Stara Zagora Region is located in the central part of Southern Bulgaria with an area of 5147 square km and a population of 390,000 in eleven municipalities. The City of Stara Zagora is in the heart of the Region with a population of 180,000. The Region has nine towns and a population density of 76 people per square kilometer, exceeding the national average. In the northern part of the Region stands the majestic Balkan Mountain Range/Stara Planina. Just below the Balkans lay the Sredna Gora Mountains. The Upper Thracian Plain occupies the central and southern parts of the Region.

One of the largest Bulgarian lignite coal mines is situated within Stara Zagora Region. The Region is rich in thermal mineral springs with a large number of spas and health centers to facilitate the use of the healing waters. The rich soils of the Region make it ideal for productive agriculture and food processing. Forests are one of the Stara Zagora Region's most valuable natural resources offering ideal opportunities for the regional economy.

The location of the Stara Zagora Region is a major advantage to trade with transportation routes providing easy access to Sofia in the west (230 km); Bourgas' Black Sea Port in the east (180 km); Rousse's Danube Port at the Romanian Border in the north (235 km); and the Greek Port Alexandrupolis, in the south (300 km). Stara Zagora serves as the central hub of an efficient train system connecting the Region with all Bulgarian cities as well as cities in Eastern and Western Europe. The International Automatic Telephone Network provides the Region with a quality communication system, recently improved by the completion of a new digital network, providing a communication system to meet the standards of international business.

The Stara Zagora region boasts well-developed health care and educational institutions as well as a large number of institutions dedicated to keeping alive the rich cultural and historic traditions of the region.

Various industries combine to produce over 70% of the region's revenues. A major portion of regional revenues result from the production of lignite coal and electrical energy, with Stara Zagora supplying 30% of the total power output in Bulgaria. Other major industries in the region are related to equipment building (electronics, hydraulics, food processing equipment, and military equipment), the food industry, and the production of cosmetics.

Agriculture accounts for a smaller share in the regional economy but its potential for development in the future is great due to a favorable climate and fertile soils. Various fruits, vegetables, vines, cereals (wheat, maize, barley) as well as cotton, sunflower, roses, and lavender are grown here. Animal breeding has also been developing at a quick pace in the recent years.

The forests covering the mountains in the Region favor the development of the carpentry and furniture making industries. There are two large wood working companies already functioning in the Region, one in Gurkovo and the other in Gorno Sahrane, both of them were established in the 1960's. The majority of furniture making companies are located in Stara Zagora and Kazanlak. The oldest furniture making company in Stara Zagora is called Mebel AD, established in 1966.

Again, the traditions in this industry have been preserved and further developed by a large number of small and medium sized companies founded in the years of the restructuring of the regional economy, when many professional carpenters began starting their own businesses. These businesses feature great flexibility and are focused on specific production lines, which has resulted in a high level of product quality. As with the small equipment manufactureres, complementary partnerships among them enable them to competetively handle orders for the production of larger items and bigger quantities.

A branch association called the Regional Association of Carpenters and Furniture Makers was registered in 1999 and provides for the training of experts for these companies, joint supplies, research of the latest technologies, common marketing research and facilitation of partnerships among these companies to help them come to the market together and be more successful.