2.69 Dobrich 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

The local business has good conditions for carrying out economic activity. In the municipality, a clear normative base has been created for the consultative process with business and civil society structures, and publicity of the rules and the composition of public and consultative councils has been ensured. An Economic Development Council was established in the municipality, whose activity is aimed at supporting the activities of the local executive authority and providing opinions on the development policies of the municipality. Business representatives show sporadic activity regarding anti-corruption initiatives in the municipality.

Along with the positive assessments of business regarding the opportunities for dialogue with the municipality, business representatives also express critical assessments regarding the equality of participants in the consultation process in the municipality and regarding the ability of municipal councillors to resist lobbying influence.

The municipal administration and the mayor’s team make a leading contribution to the creation of conditions for the development of the city. The administration has created the capacity for effective provision of administrative services, including electronically. It makes an important contribution to the accountability of the local executive by providing the necessary publicity regarding registers, discussed documents and policies; adheres to good implementation of standards of accountability and feedback to users of administrative services.

The website of the municipality provides well-structured information for business, and access to it is through the home page in the created “About the business” section. There is published information on the services provided, regulations and rules, project documents, public procurement, tenders and contests, concluded contracts with contractors. An important element of the site is the information about the socio-economic profile of the municipality, but it should be noted that there is no information about the conditions for investments and support for start-up businesses. The municipal council has adopted an Ordinance for the promotion of investments; it has decided to create an economic zone. In this regard, the results of the research show that there is a need to focus the efforts of the executive power on practical actions to attract investments, which will build on the adopted regulations and the first actions to build the infrastructure of an economic zone.

The mayor has implemented a policy to develop the capacity of the municipal administration and has exercised adequate control over the activities of municipal companies. He has a clearly established practice of accountability and seeking accountability from subordinate companies, often using audit mechanisms; the activity of control bodies is based on a clear and equal approach to economic subjects.

Several active civil organisations work in the municipality, which make a real contribution to the discussion of development policies and manage to play a role in implementing public control over the institutions. The contribution of the media in this direction is comparatively more limited.