4.15 Ruse 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

The local business has very favourable conditions for its activity. The main contribution to this is made by the local executive power and the favourable geographical position of the municipality, which is located at the crossroads of key international communication and trade corridors.

The mayor ranks first among the other mayors included in the Local System Integrity Index study. This evaluation is the result of an adequate performance of a set of indicators in the three dimensions – capacity, role and management, with the indicators related to the accountability and transparency of the mayor’s work, the effective management of the municipal administration and the dialogue with public organisations regarding the introduction of the principles of good governance.

The mayor regularly uses the tools to control municipal enterprises, ensures publicity of the results of their work, of the performed audits and inspections, including in relation to projects with European funding. A significantly positive mayoral activity is maintaining the practice of direct communication with citizens, as well as indirect communication through columns with his participation in the local media. Before 2023, actions were taken to overcome identified gaps regarding the consultation process with citizens and businesses regarding the development policies of the municipality – the established unstructured cooperation with business was upgraded with rules for participation in the consultation process. In 2023, a Public Council for Economic Affairs was established at the Ruse Municipality. It is attended by representatives of business, chambers of commerce, academia, industry and other civil organisations. The Council is an expert-consultative body that will assist the local government and local self-government in forming positions, undertaking development initiatives and conducting municipal policy on economic issues.

The mayor has a contribution to the adoption of accountability standards and the managed municipal administration. It has a well-established system for providing administrative services, including providing complex administrative services and expanding the range of provided electronic services for citizens and businesses. The administration maintains a feedback relationship with the citizens and applies an approach to communication about the performed activity on a weekly basis, which makes it close to the people. The administration has provided basic data on the activity of all seven municipal enterprises (subject of activity, governing bodies, contact details), and some of the enterprises publish more detailed information about their functions, including links to their websites and documents regulating their work.

The website of the municipality presents well-structured and visualised business information. A specialised site for investments in the area has been created. On the main page of the municipality’s website, a section called “Conditions for business and investments” has been created, which links to “Invest in Ruse”, “Buyer profile”, “Administrative services”, with a sub-section “Economics and property management”. A panel has been created on the main page that refers the user to the Geographical Information System of Ruse Municipality. On the page of the Municipal Council, in the “Regulations” section, the regulations that refer to economic activity, including the Regulation on tax benefits for investments, are published in an accessible and visible place. Adequate access to registers is provided. Within the “Invest in Ruse” website, available information is published regarding “Investment Profile of the Municipality of Ruse”, “Investment Profile of the Euroregion Ruse – Gyurgevo”, “Ruse Airport”, “Main Employers”. Updated information for 2023 on Ruse’s investment profile has been published.

The municipal council has adopted ordinances related to business activities, including Ordinance for the promotion of investments of municipal importance in the municipality of Ruse and the issuing of class B certificates and Ordinance for tax relief for investments. It interacts with the local executive authority in the implementation of policies for the development of the municipality and strives to carry out its functions of control over the work of the local executive authority. There are certain deficits in the application of the mechanisms to prevent conflicts of interest; the ethical aspects of the work of municipal councillors are not the focus of the Council.

Local businesses have very favourable conditions for the development of their activities. Local businesses rely on an established regulatory framework promoting investment and on built infrastructure in the established industrial zone. Some of the business associations are involved in developing and asserting positions regarding regulations affecting their activity; some of the companies show a rather declarative approach to the opportunities to participate in good governance initiatives and to support civil initiatives in this area. In 2023, active business associations and companies joined the established Public Council on Economic Affairs of the Ruse Municipality. Local business representatives are not subject to abuse of power by the local government. The passive approach to the topic of corruption prevention and the declarative approach to the possibilities of supporting civil initiatives for good governance are noted as a deficit.

The structures of the civil society (media and civil organisations) have a moderate contribution to the implementation of public control over the institutions, respectively to the creation of an environment. There are examples of active representatives of the media and civil organisations that actively use the opportunities provided by the legislation for access to public information.