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GALABOVO MUNICIPALITY
(marketing profile resume)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Galabovo Municipality is situated in the east part of the Upper Thracian Plain, reaching the Sakar Mountain to the south. It is included in the territory of Stara Zagora District and covers a surface of 348,8 sq.km. Besides the town of Galabovo, situated on both sides of the Sazliyka River, the municipality includes 10 more villages. The average altitude of the municipality is 194,5 m. The climate of the municipality is mild with an average annual temperature of 12,1° С. Soils are fertile.
The primary natural resource of the municipality is the lignite coal field, part of the Maritsa East basin where 57% of the Bulgarian coal resources are concentrated (2,6 billion tons, representing a 30 m high layer .
One of the shortest roads, connecting the northern and western part of Bulgaria, from Rousse to Kapitan Andreevo, crosses the municipal territory. It is used mainly for international transit transportation. All towns and villages in the municipalities are supplied with water and electricity, phone lines, and up-to-date communication facilities.
There are 28 micro dams with a total area of 2000 decars. One of them, Rozov kladenets dam is known for its biological diversity. Attracted by its warm waters, more than 65 bird species are to be found here. In winter it is an interesting site to be visited by bird watchers.

ECONOMIC PROFILE

The Maritsa East power generation complex is the logo of the modern development of the town of Galabovo. Coal mining and power generation are the major economic sectors, based on the findings of low-calorie lignite coal, extracted in open mines. The mines Troyanovo – 3 and Troyanovo –1, part of the larger complex Maritsa East mines EAD are located within the municipality. The thermal power plant Maritsa East – 3 (with a capacity of 840 МW) and TPP Maritsa East – 1 (200 MW) are also here. The latter, together with the unique factory for coal bricks (1.1 million tons per year) form Brikel AD.
One of the largest enterprises is Energoremont AD, which is responsible for the maintenance of the facilities within the mining complex. Repair works, supply and technical service of the mining complex is the main field of activity of the SMEs within the municipalities.
The natural conditions and fertile black soils are conducive to the growing of barley and what crops, sunflower, corn, tobacco, and orchards. In the Sakar region vineyards are being re-planted and essential oil bearing plants have been planted. The agricultural land in the municipality amounts to 275 450 decars.
There are branches of 5 banks in Galbovo – Express Bank, Bulbank, DSK Bank, the Bulgarian Post Bank and Reifeisenbank. A Centre for Development of Galabovo Municipality was established in 2001 with the aim to provide support to SMEs and potential investors. +359 418/ 2246, e-mail:cnp_galabovo@szeda.bg).
The future prospects of Galabovo Municipality are connected with the electrical power generating and transporting facilities. There are foreign investors interested in the mines (the German company RWE Reinbrown and TPP Maritsa East 3 (the American company Entergy)
The region needs serious investment to improve the environment, which is heavily polluted with dust and oxydes, emitted in the process of coal burning.

HISTORY AND CULTURE

The first traces of human life on the territory of Galabovo Municipality date back to the Neolythic Age (end of 4th millenium B.C). The Hisarlaka Tell, situated next to the town boundaries, represents a unique archeological site preserving the remains of a prehistoric settlement from the Chalcolythic Age. A number of uncovered objects used in the everyday life prove that crafts and commerce with Ancient Greece and the Near East were well developed. Dozens of Thracian settlements and mounds were found out in the region.
During the Middle Ages this is a border region between Byzantium and the Bulgarian state. During the years of the Turkish Yoke the region is populated mainly by Bulgarians. The real history of Galabovo begins in 1875 when the construction of the railway Simeonovgrad, Nova Zagora, Yambol was completed. The development of the industrial complex Maritsa East after 1960 brings about sweeping changes in the life of people in the municipality by connecting them permanently with coal mining and power generation.
This town of miners and power engineers organizes cultural events each year: the Review of the Roma Music in April, the “Yanko Petrov” National Meeting of Rebeck Players in May, the traditional Autumn Fair in September and the Day of Galabovo in November.
The traditions, folklore and Renaissance lifestyle of Galabovo are preserved in the Ethnographic Museum (Direkov’s family house from the 19th c.) and maintained by the four cultural centres. The town has also a Municipal Library, a Picture Gallery and a Municipal House of Culture. The spiritual heritage has been kept in the orthodox churches, the oldest of which is Saint Ivan Rilski Church, built in 1897.

POPULATION AND LIFESTYLE

The population of the municipality is 16 000. Coal mining, power engineering and transmission employ almost half of the workforce. Galabovo ranks among the first ten municipalities in Bulgaria with the highest GDP per capita. According to a recent survey, conducted by the UN Development Programme it has the second human development index in Stara Zagora District.
The town of Galabovo has a centralized heating system, delivered by Brickel through a 20-km long pipeline.
The town hospital has five wards and a clinical laboratory, all supplied with up-to-date medical equipment. There are medical services in the villages.
The workforce is well qualified. There are five primary and two secondary schools. The Technical Secondary School on electrical and power engineering trains specialists for the Maritsa East complex.

Contact information:
Municipal Administration
59, Tsar Simeon Veliki Str., Galabovo 6280
Mayor – tel.+359 418 2343; fax +359 418 2335
Municipal Secretary – tel.: +359 418 2340
Internet: http://www.szeda.bg/galabovo

Centre for Development of Galabovo Municipality
tel. +359 416/ 7728, e-mail:cnp_galabovo@szeda.bg

This publication is funded by
the United States Agency for International Development through
the Foundation for Local Government Reform under the project “Building a positive image of local governments of Galabovo, Radnevo and Chirpan as a foundation for enhancing confidence in citizens and external partners »,
implemented by Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency.
127, Gen. Stoletov Str., Stara Zagora 6000, tel. +359 42 605007, fax +359 42 38075,
e-mail: office@szeda.bg Internet: www.szeda.bg