2.63 Lovech 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

Local business has relatively favourable conditions for its development. The leading contribution to this is made by the municipal administration and the executive power in the likes of the mayor and the mayor’s team. In this regard, the consistent actions to ensure transparency in management, to build mechanisms for consultation with civil society and to promptly adopt the current anti-corruption legislation in the past year stand out.

The municipal administration receives one of the highest marks compared to the other municipal administrations included in the survey. It is ranked third in the general ranking of this sector, ranking after the administrations of large municipalities with significant human and financial resources. The administration has built capacity for efficient provision of administrative services, including electronically. It ensures the necessary publicity regarding the registers, discussed documents and policies, maintains adequate feedback to the users of administrative services and adheres to the standards of accountability.

The website of the municipality provides structured information, and on its main page has the sections “Invest in Lovech”, “Auctions and contests”, “Profile of the buyer”, “Organisation of the territory, technical infrastructure and ecology”, “Finance, economy, tourism and transport’. Access to a register of agricultural lands is provided, with the possibility of making inquiries. The “Invest in Lovech” section provides information on properties for sale and properties for rent. The section lacks detailed information about opportunities to start a business, innovative startup economic activities. At the same time, it should be emphasised that the municipality has created a clear legal basis for the consultative process with businesses and civil organisations, ensuring the publicity of the rules and the composition of public and consultative councils. An Economic Development Council has been established, which aims to support the activities of the local executive authority and to provide opinions on municipal development policies.

Although the natural features of the relief do not provide opportunities for investments in large-scale projects, actions have been taken in the municipality to promote investments – an industrial zone has been created, which is equipped with the necessary infrastructure. The municipal council has created a relatively good base for business development by adopting regulations easing the administrative burden for start-up businesses. It functions in accordance with the general criteria for publicity and accountability of its work; in addition, there have been reports that some of the decisions are the result of opaque lobbying.

As the head of the local administration, the mayor implements a clear policy to develop the municipality’s capacity by involving employees in qualification courses and programs. The municipality has created a system for monitoring and effective control over the activity of the administration, which also covers the implementation of the code of ethics by the employees. The mayor exercises adequate control over the activity of municipal companies, using the audit mechanisms; the activity of control bodies is based on a clear and equal approach to economic subjects.

Civil organisations have a certain contribution to the implementation of public control over institutions, as an essential prerequisite for this are the established mechanisms for structuring the dialogue between institutions and civil society. The contribution of the media in this regard is comparatively more limited.