SOUTH-EAST BULGARIA

The South East Region of Bulgaria covers an area of 14,600 sq km which equals 13% of the country's total area. Bourgas, Sliven and Yambol are the three administrative districts of the region, which borders Turkey to the south and the Black sea to the east. South East Bulgaria has 782,000 inhabitants, which equals 10% of the total population and produces 8.8% of the Bulgarian GDP.

Industry in South East Bulgaria provides around one fourth of total employment and is dominated by SMEs. The main industrial sectors are food and drinks production, textiles, petrochemical products, and wood processing. The main industrial companies are located in Bourgas and the big towns of Sliven and Yambol.

Tourism is the most rapidly developing sector of the regional economy, with activities mainly on the Black sea coast. Agriculture provides 18.8% of the regional GDP and 6% of the employment. Grapes, fruit and corn are the most commonly grown crops. Cattle breeding is located mainly in the mountainous areas. Fishery and aquaculture is developed along the coastline. The region is not among the leaders in R&D activities in the country but has very experienced research experts mainly in the chemical and agricultural sectors.