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Analysis
and Assessment of Economic Development in the Municipality
- Development
of Industry
The
timber and wood processing industry plays a structure-determining
role in Velingrad municipality and is gradually and intensively being
privatized. The long-standing tradition in the manufacturing of furniture
and office equipment together with such new branches as the manufacturing
of toys, souvenirs and other wooden items guarantee a promising future
to the branch.
There is a potential for
the development of light industry based on clean technologies: the
production of household items, rosin, detergents, and cosmetics. A
number of workshops that had been closed down in the smaller settlements
will be re-opened. Ways and means are sought to stimulate private
artisans.
- Woodworking
Industry
Woodworking
in the Municipality is monitored and controlled by four forestry
units-Selishte, Chehliovo, Yundola, and Velingrad.
In the Municipality's territory there are 143 woodworking enterprises
and companies. They produce multifunctional traditional and
office furniture, wooden children's toys, and wooden materials
both for the local market and for international markets.
- Chemical
Industry
The largest
chemical production company is Kristal, the only Balkan chemical
plant that produces resin, turpentine, light resin, solvents,
glue, and others - high quality products shown frequently at international
exhibitions.
- Marble
working
Diana-91, and
Chepino represent this industry.
- Other
industrial enterprises in the Municipality
- Robotika
produces distillers (the company monopolizes this industry), pharmaceutical
equipment, packaging machines, laboratory and medical materials
(sterilizers and electric dryers, sand and water baths, and others)
- Kentavur
- Velingrad.
- Development of Agriculture
Agriculture holds
a substantial part in the municipal economics. Its future development
is closely linked with the complete land restitution, opening markets
for producers and workshops for the processing and canning of farm
products.
- Agriculture
The agricultural
activities are spread on 12.8 % of the territory of Velingrad
municipality. Cultivating arable land accounts for 61.7 % of these
activities, which is a fairly high figure as compared to the other
municipalities of the region. The per capita figure for arable
land is 1460 sq. m. in Velingrad, whereas in Smolyan this indicator
is 2140 sq. m., in Assenovgrad it is 2820 sq. m. in Luki - 5110
sq. m. The main crops under cultivation in Velingrad municipality
are potatoes, hops, forage, greenhouse flowers and vegetables.
- Livestock
Breeding
Livestock breeding
is almost entirely privatized - cattle, sheep and poultry are
mostly raised on the private farms of some 8778 families of whom
3867 are in Velingrad and the remaining 4911 in the mayoralties.
The private farmers have virtually no incentive to increase production
due to the lack of markets and the low purchasing prices. There
is particular potential for development of greenhouse production
of flowers and vegetables, which can utilize the geothermal waters.
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