The South East Region of Bulgaria covers 14 642 sq. km, i.e. 13% of the area of the country. It consists of three administrative districts – Bourgas, Sliven and Yambol. It has borders with Turkey to the south and the Black sea to the east.The South East Region of Bulgaria covers 14 642 sq. km, i.e. 13% of the area of the country. It consists of three administrative districts – Bourgas, Sliven and Yambol. It has borders with Turkey to the south and the Black sea to the east.
The region has 782 653 inhabitants – 10% of the population in the country. It gives 8.8% of the GDP in Bulgaria. The main sectors of the regional economy are industry, agriculture, tourism and trade and service.
Industry in the SER is represented mainly by SMEs. The main industrial sectors are production of food and drinks, textiles, petrochemical products, wood processing. The main industrial companies are located in Bourgas and the big towns Sliven and Yambol.
Tourism is the most rapidly developed sector of the regional economy. It is located mainly on the Black sea coast. During the last few years new tourism products have been developed inside the region – ecotourism in the natural parks Strandzha and the Blue rocks, cultural tourism, hunting, etc.
Agriculture forms 18.8% of the GDP in the region. Grapes, fruit, corn are the most popular crops in the region. Cattle breeding is seen mainly in the mountainous areas. Fishery and aqua cultures are developed along the coastal areas.
The region hosts one of the oldest Technological Universities in Bulgaria “Prof. Dr Assen Zlatarov”, which is linked to the Petro Chemical Plant in Bourgas. Bourgas Free University, Technical college in Yambol – a branch of the Thracian University in Stara Zagora; a branch of the Technical University of Sofia, based in Sliven with more than a twenty-year track record. – are also part of the universities’ network in the region. There are several high professional schools and 10 vocational centers that provide specialized training. There are also about 20 research institutes and centers such as the petrochemical research institute in Bourgas, Agriculture institute in Karnobat, Selection centers in Sliven. There are 10 Business centers in the region, some of them with Business incubators that are linked in a network established with the support of the UNDP JOBS programme. They may increase their scope of work by providing new technology transfer.
The region is not among the leading in the R&D activities in the country but has very experienced research experts mainly in chemical, and agricultural sectors. The university in Sliven has experts in the field of information technologies and energy efficiency
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