Geography and population
The border location of the area is favourable to the possibilities of its development. Above all this location determines the considerable potential of the area for co-operation with other areas. On the other hand the expectations for development of the region are closely related with the possibilities of integration with the neighboring regions - especially with the Bourgas and Sliven regions and with the formation of premises for the general use of resources and potentials for development. The territory of the area covers the middle part of the Tundja river valley, the “Bakadjitsi”, parts of the Svetiliiski, Derventski and Manastirski uplands. The climate of the Tundja river valley is transcontinental, and in the southern parts of the area the climate is continental Mediterranean. Most of the region’s land is used for agricultural exploitation. It is 76.9 % of the total regional land. The forests cover 15.5% of the area. And because the agricultural lands cover most of the area, the wood resources are limited. The permanent population of the region comes to 167 649 and comprises 2% of the country population. The town residents are 109 514 and the village inhabitants are 58 135 (65,32% town population and 34, 68% village population). The average population density is 49, 6 people per sq. km.
The town and the village system include 110 settlements of which 4 towns and 106 villages. The towns Yambol, Elhovo, Straldja and Bolyarovo function as essential economic, transport and communal centres.
Infrastructure-gas, water, electricity supply, telecommunications network
The technical infrastructure - namely road network, electricity supply, telephone and irrigation systems, are well developed. The water supplying system is 1792 km long. All populated areas are water supplied.
The automatic telephone exchanges working in the region are 64. There is one digital exchange, for town exploitation with total capacity 63028 telephones. All settlements in Yambol region can be automatically dialled.
The road network in Yambol region is 1023,4 km long, 879,9 km of which is an asphalt covering, 98,8 km is broken-stone roar surface and 133,7 km are not paved. The existing railway system in the region functions well. The projects for future development concern railway transport connecting Elhovo and Odrin/Turkey/.
Places of interest
The Ancient settlement of Cabile, the prehistoric tumulus by the village of Drama, the remains of Yambol Medieval castle and the Monastery of the middle Ages in Voden. The Antique settlement "Cabile" is a National archaeological reserve and a nature preserved site, being the most important Thracian settlement in Bulgaria.
The Tundja River, the fourth of its size with an earth embankment, flows through the region. Its most essential tributaries are the Motchuritza River, the Popovska and Calnitza Rivers. Mineral water springs are found near the village of Stefan Caradjovo, Straldja.
General tourist information
It is 110 km. from Yambol to Bourgas International Airport.
Hunting, ecological and village tourism are developed
The number of the working people in the region is 61 700 and the employment coefficient is 33,7%. Those unemployed are 16 500, of whom 8500 men and 8200 women-they comprise 25, 6 of the whole working population
Unemployment in the end of 2003 is 17.88%
Current priority industry sectors
The existing industrial enterprises have preserved good production capacities with all facilities functioning and highly-qualified staff employed. The town industrial zone has been gas supplied. The industrial field of the region involves the following branches: food, wine and garments -making industries.
The expansion and development of small and middle-size private enterprises play a big role in the industrial development of the region and the economic processes acceleration. The key target is reconstruction of the existing industrial potential attracting national and foreign investments to guarantee stable production increase, the renovation of the final products in order to raise their competitiveness in the domestic and foreign markets.
Traditional industrial branches are being developed in the region: construction industry; electrical engineering; metal-working and wood - working industries; tailoring, textile industries; production of food and drinks; glass and ceramic industries; health and hygienic services etc.
Sectors for development
There are extremely good opportunities for the agriculture development in the region. The existing climate conditions and traditions in cultivation of plantations of perennial plants and other agricultural plants are prerequisites for creation of new perennial plants with qualitative planting material and competitive aspectual and select composition in the vine-growing and fruit-growing. There is a great opportunity of these projects to be carried out. It is necessary to form a market infrastructure for the sale of agricultural production that will suit the increasing requirements of local and international markets.
Government assistance of the development of industry, agriculture, tourism and other economical branches, of great importance is the expansion, reconstruction and modernization of the regional technical infrastructure.
Business information and contact data
YAMBOL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
tel: +359 46 662939
fax: +359 46 665011
INDUSTRIAL – ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION – YAMBOL
Tel: +359 46 663239
fax:+359 46 663223
AGENCY FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENTS
tel. +359 46 629908
TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE SCIENTIFIC
AND TECHNICAL UNIONS- YAMBOL
Tel/fax: +359 46 663398
E-mail: NTS-YAMBOL @ATIL.NET
Union of the small and middle business – Yambol
Tel: +359 46 661242
Custom– offices -Yambol
Tel: +359 46 664237
Regional veterinary medical service - Yambol
Теl: +359 46 663626