2.63 Kyustendil 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

Local authorities strive to provide a favourable environment for business. A leading contribution to this is the executive power in the likes of the mayor and the mayor’s team, who implement and maintain an open dialogue with society, take measures to ensure transparency in management and a policy to develop the capacity of the local municipal administration.

Direct dialogue with citizens and businesses is one of the main positives in the work of the mayor and his team. Local businesses are consulted periodically when adopting new regulations or when amending existing ones. The lack of specific rules regarding the procedure for including business in public discussions is outlined as a deficiency. The work of the administration is structured in a way that provides convenient access to the provided administrative services and promotes publicity in the management of the municipality. For this purpose, the administration uses information technology and numerous social platforms.

The administration has built capacity for efficient provision of administrative services, including an electronically way to do so. It provides the necessary publicity regarding the registers, discussed documents and policies, and one of the prerequisites for easy access is the option built into the site to share the documents in different electronic formats and through different platforms and social networks.

The municipality maintains a website, the structure of which is aimed more at the needs of citizens. On the main page, sections “Electronic Services” and “AOS Register” have been created; OUP, Territorial structure”, “Agriculture and forests”, “Tourism”, social activities, “Programs and projects” does not have a separate section for business; “Buyer profile”. The information regarding the attraction of investments is relatively limited – in the section “Organisation of the territory” received notifications regarding “Investment intentions” are published. At the same time, it should be noted that the site provides basic information about parameters from the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the municipality, which provide conditions for conducting business in several main areas – restorative tourism, forestry and international trade.

Information about the decisions and regulations of the Municipal Council is published in the “Municipal Council” section. Access to the documents and discussed drafts of regulations and decisions is provided in several steps.

The municipal council exercises effective control over the activities of the mayor and municipal enterprises. The Council’s consultative process with businesses and civil organisations is accompanied by both good practices (observed standards for the publicity of information regarding discussed documents and decisions) and a lack of information regarding the rules for participation in established public and consultative councils. Gaps in the transparency of the standing committees have been identified.

The business has relatively good conditions for carrying out its activity. The interaction between business and local government institutions is primarily expressed in actions to solve specific problems but does not have the characteristics of strategic cooperation for the development of the region. Local companies and business organisations support in principle the idea of ​​anti-corruption policies but adhere to a passive approach and to the understanding that local authorities have the main initiative in this area. Local authorities have taken steps to reduce the administrative burden on businesses and have taken action to build an industrial zone. Although the area has developed infrastructure and communications, there are no indications of intensive development in the last year.

The contribution of local civil organisations to public control of institutions is modest. A more active role is played by the local and regional media, which cooperate in providing publicity regarding the management not only of the municipality, but also in a wider regional aspect.