The Municipality of Nova Zagora is part of the Region of Sliven. It is located in the south- west part of the region. In the north it encompasses the southern slopes of mount Mejdenik, parts of the valley of the river Tundja and Sredna gora, in the south-east it reaches the northern slopes St. Ilya’s Heights and the central part is taken by the flat field of Nova Zagora.

The Municipality of Nova Zagora is situated in South East Bulgaria (in the northern part of the Thracian valley) on a crossroads between the big regional centers Stara Zagora, Yambol and Sliven. It is the second biggest municipality in the region of Sliven. It spreads on a territory of 876.9 square kilometers. 72,5517 hectares are farmland and 11,6056 hectares are forests.

The Municipality of Nova Zagora is located on a territory encompassing the field of Nova Zagora and the slopes St. Ilya’s Heights. The relief is predominantly flat and a great part of the flat land is among the most fertile in the country. A small part is hilly and comprises the slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain. The flat terrain, together with fertile soils assists the development of up-to-date mechanized farming and the development of bio- agriculture. About 30 per cent of the territory of the municipality is taken by woods. Over twenty kinds of broad- leaved trees can be seen here. Among the coniferous trees the white and black pine and spruce predominate. The animal world in the region of the municipality is also diverse and interesting. There are between 120 and 140 vertebrates, 20 of which are birds. Some of them are in danger of extinction and are entered in The Red Book of Bulgaria.

Farmlands are predominant in the land structure of the Municipality of Nova Zagora. They comprise 80.04 per cent of its territory.

The arable farmland, the forests and pastures are crucially important for the development of the economy of the municipality. They are the basis for the development of up-to-date agricultural business on its territory.

The forests comprise 11.66 per cent. Transport territories and the infrastructure take up 0.89 per cent of the total territory. Residential areas comprise 1.86 per cent.

The rivers which flow through the municipality are the Tundja, the Blatnitsa, the Ovcharitsa. The artificial lake Jrebchevo is also located here.

The Municipality of Nova Zagora with its natural potential, socio- economic parameters and educational structure is characterized as comparatively well- developed in respect to its economy and infrastructure and takes the second place among the municipalities in the region after the Municipality of Sliven.

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The development of agriculture is mainly affected by the characteristic features of the land resources. The soil diversity in the municipality of Nova Zagora is great. The most widely spread kinds of soils are the carbonate and the typical humus soils north of St. Ilya’s Heights. Typical crops for these soils are the cereals- for food and fodder, sunflower and vegetables.
Along the Tundja valley maroon soils are predominant, which are suitable for growing vines and orchards. In the vicinity of Nova Zagora there are favourable conditions for growing cotton.
The climatic and soil characteristics of the district around the villages of Polsko Padarevo and Korten are extremely beneficial for the development of vine- growing, which is traditionally the main occupation of the local population.

The climate of this geographical area is temperate continental. The average annual temperature of the air is 12 degrees C. In the winter the average monthly temperature is above zero- 1.2 degrees C. The winter is mild and dry, the summer is comparatively hot- the average temperature is 23.2 degrees C. The autumn is longer than the spring, which lengthens the vegetative period of the crops from April to September. Despite the limited rainfalls the climatic conditions are favourable for the development of  agriculture.

Population

According to the data announced by the Civil registration and Administrative services on 30.01.2008 the population of the municipality is 45, 111.The density of population is 51 people per square kilometer, lower than the average for the country and the municipality. There is one town and 32 villages in the municipality.

Education

On the territory of the municipality there are 3 primary schools, 13 basic education schools, 2 secondary schools, 2 vocational high schools and one school for disabled children. 5,089 students are taught at these schools by 559 teachers and assisted by 248 subsidiary personnel. Each of these schools follows the good traditions of Bulgarian education and strives to develop and assert its own unique image. The vocational schools open classes which prepare specialists in the spheres following the tendencies of the development of the economy of the Municipality and the region. The agricultural vocational school prepares specialists in farming, cereal preservation and processing, production of bread and pastry, winery, agricultural mechanization, forestry, rural tourism. The technological and technical vocational school prepares specialists in machinery and equipment for metal processing, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment in the food processing industry, electronic and gas equipment, computer technologies. Four of the schools have organized canteens for the students. Two of the schools have accommodating facilities, namely the school for disabled children and the basic-education school in the village of Bogdanovo for children from needy families. All schools have computer labs with an Internet connection. The students from villages without a school are transported to the nearest school.

There are twenty-five nursery schools and kindergartens in the municipality. In the town of Nova Zagora there is a nursery school with three groups and five day-care kindergartens. The other nineteen day-care kindergartens are in the villages of the municipality. The children at the kindergartens are 1165 and they are taken care of by ninety-seven teachers and ninety-five subsidiary personnel. There are doctor’s surgeries in each of the schools as well as adequate medical personnel.

The education network in the Municipality is a priority for the local government. Various forms and ways of assisting the schools are developed with the aim to provide high-quality, up-to-date education for the children and young people.

Industry

There are 921 working industrial companies on the territory of the municipality of Nova Zagora, the majority of them in the private sector. In the period between 2000 and 2004 the number of companies operating in the industrial sphere doubled. This shows the interest of entrepreneurs in the development of this sector.

Some of the companies located in the Municipality of Nova Zagora are:

ZMM Ltd. Producing machine tools, famous world- wide for their high quality ;

Perla Ltd. Is the biggest producer of agricultural machines in Bulgaria;

• Gradus- a company for producing alcoholic drinks
• Miroglio Ltd. Is one of the biggest producer of textile in Bulgaria;
• On the territory of the municipality there are a lot of dairies, one of the biggest of which is Minchevi Ltd.

The town of Nova Zagora is almost fully gasified which has a favourable effect on the economy, in view of the low cost of gas.
In the recent years the most important investor in the municipality has been the Miroglio Bulgaria concern. Its subject of activity is the production and distribution of textile. In Nova Zagora is located one of the four branches of the concern. Its produce serves as raw material for the other branches and the rest of it is exported. There are 175 people employed in the factory in Nova Zagora.

The biggest wine producers are on the territory of the municipality. They are Vinprom Joint stock company- Rousse with a wine cellar in Korten and Vini- Sliven with a wine cellar in Nova Zagora.
The wine cellar in Korten produces high quality wines, brandies and other alcoholic drinks. Its produce is for the local market as well as for export. Fifty- two per cent of the cellar is private property.
The produce of Vini- Sliven is designed mainly for the local market. Part of it is exported to England, Germany and the Scandinavian countries. The cellar employs permanently 23 people, but during the grape- collecting period, the number of employees rises to 50.
It has been a tendency in the recent years for young farmers to invest in planting new vines, which will ensure the development of wine production in future.
Palirria- Bulgaria Ltd. is the basic producer of canned vegetables. Its produce is designed mainly for export. It is exported to the countries of the European Union, The USA, Canada, and Austria. The capital of the company is property of the Greek shareholders Palirria- Suliotis. Over 400 people are employed by the company.
Dairy products of cow’s and sheep’s milk are produced mainly by Milk Way Ltd. Nova Zagora, Minchevi Ltd. Nova Zagora and Diana Mi Korten. Milk way supplies the Bulgarian market and exports part of its produce to Macedonia and Greece. The company has the capacity to process 150 tones of milk per 24 hours.118 people used to work for the company but due to limiting the production, 48 employees were made redundant at the beginning of 2004. Minchevi Ltd. work mainly for the local market.
Reputable companies for the production and processing of meat on the territory of Nova Zagora are:
Enchevi 97 Ltd; Iva-Kriss- Stayko Ivanov sole trader; Megakol cooperative company; Rodopa- NZ; MIM- Slav Danev, etc.
The production of cereals is represented mainly by Melnitsa Nova Zagora Ltd-Nova Zagora. The major bread-producing firms, engaged in the production of bread, confectioners and pastry are: Hlebozavod Ltd, Anisia, T Valev-C, Jar-98.

Agriculture

The farmland comprises 51.5 % of the territory of the municipality, and the wooded areas are 39.9%.
The farmland is used for: fields, vineyards and plantations of perennial plants.

Data from 31.12.2003 shows that in the Municipality of Nova Zagora the farmland is distributed as follows:
I. Total area of farmland- 64,0336 hectares
II. Total amount of arable land- 55,3841 hectares (86.49% of the total farmland)
1. Fields- 52,8,511 hectares (82.54% of the total farmland);
2. Vineyards- 3, 2337 hectares (5.05%)
3. Perennial plants-0, 5923 hectares (0.92%)
III. Lawns and pastures- 7, 3565 hectares (11.49%).
IV. Total area of non- arable land 1, 2930 hectares (2.02%), including: uncultivated lands 0, 3009 hectares and deserted lands 0, 9921 hectares.

The area, taken by arable land in the Municipality of Nova Zagora is 55,3841 hectares, which is 86.49% of the total area of farmland and 63.16% of the total territory of the municipality.
The municipality has good traditions in this branch of the economy. During the 1980s it was one of the biggest producers of agricultural crops in the southeastern part of Bulgaria. Plant- growing took 58% and animal breeding 42% in the structure of farming. The yields of wheat, maize, grapes, etc. were above the average for the country.
Plant- growing plays a major role in the farming of the region. Cereals take 66% of the arable land, wheat and barley being the main crops. Their yields are estimated at 17 million leva per year. Sunflower brings in good profits and the farmers are sparing larger areas for its growing. It brings in profits of 7 million leva per year.
There are excellent conditions for growing wine and dessert sorts of grapes in the municipality. 0,2600 hectares are occupied with vineyards. The orchards are represented by peaches, apples and plums.

Culture

The Municipality of Nova Zagora has long- standing traditions in the cultural sphere, 35 working cultural institutions, and outstanding artists, rich cultural and historical heritage.
On the territory of the municipality there are 156 monuments, three of them of national importance. The ones arousing the greatest interest are the ancient tumuli near the villages of Dyadovo and Karanovo. The Historical Museum in Nova Zagora has excellent facilities and a rich collection of archeological findings from the region. It also hosts a unique exhibition of Thracian chariots, the only one of its kind in the country.

Rainbow art studio, jointly with Nova Zagora Foundation and the Municipality of Nova Zagora are hosts to the widely popular and traditional International Children’s Art Exhibition.
Geo Milev literary circle and the group of the artists in Nova Zagora also work actively. The traditional Art assembly in the village of Banya and the recently launched Poetry days aim at interaction of cultural ideas and encouraging the artistic potential. Local artists are holders of prestigious national awards.
Zagorcheta children’s folk ensemble successfully represents the musical folk wealth around the country and abroad.
Dinyo P. Sivkov culture centre and the art school working there encourages and develops the young talents of the town. The library at the Centre has sections for children, adults, reading room, arts hall, electronic library and a rich book fund of about 150,000 volumes.

The international cultural exchange is carried out by the French- Bulgarian cultural and information centre, set up by Professor Minko Balkanski.

Based on the Bulgarian traditions and customs, the local community centres and councils build up the unique image of the culture of the municipality:

• The village of Korten is host to the National days of amateur village theatre and Regional festival of polyphonic choirs;
• the village of Konyovo organizes the Gergyovden regional folk festival;
• the village of Elenovo is host to the Easter folk festival and Mincho Nedyalkov competition;
• In the village of Elenovo there is a church- cultural monument;
• In the villages of Pet mogili and Lyubenets there are song groups for authentic folklore, which have won numerous municipal, regional, as well as national prizes;
• The festival of wheat fertility in the village of Pet mogili and the Shooting arrows custom on the first Sunday before Lent are unique events;
• A National festival of amateur chamber theatres for Southern Bulgaria and a National poetic competition take place in Nova Zagora.

Tourism and sport

The sports facilities are property of the municipality, including Zagorets sports complex with its athletic track, one big and two smaller football pitches, 3000 spectator seats, changing rooms and subsidiary rooms.

Tourism
The municipality has developed a strategy for the development of tourism highlighting cultural and eco tourism.
Aleko 1900 tourist association and Nova 07 sports and tourism association carry out a variety of walking and cycling initiatives around Bulgaria and abroad, mountain trekking, trips around the country, competitions in winter sports with mass participation, etc.
A tourist information centre is operating.

Social activities

The municipal administration participates in the development and implementing of effective policy in the spheres of healthcare and social activities. It assists the normal functioning of the social institutions, as well as the kindergartens and schools. The following social institutions work on the territory of the municipality:

A daycare centre for disabled children
Protected home
Old people’s home, Banya
Social home patronage
Home for children lacking parental care, Assenovets
Rehabilitation and Consulting Center

Investment opportunities

• One of the most serious problems in and around the town and villages, both from esthetic and hygienic points of view, is rubbish. The town and the villages have an organized system of collecting and disposing of the rubbish. The Municipality of Nova Zagora needs financing for the building of a plant for processing of rubbish, as well as a depot and purifying facility. The implementation of the project will bring about the improvement of the environment in the Municipality of Nova Zagora.
• Commerce
• Agriculture- perennial plants and vegetable- growing;
• Processing factories- agricultural, food and wine producing;
• Tourism- rural, cultural and spa;
• Infrastructural projects- building of Rubbish cleaning facility, roads, water- conducting and gutters;
  High technologies.