2.99 Targovishte 2023, Инвестиционен анализ

Local authorities are making efforts to develop business and attract investment. The main contribution to this is made by the local executive in the form of the mayor and his team. The municipality has established a public procurement management system, which is based on transparency and control over the executors of contracts for projects and public procurement. Control units apply an approach that is based on clear criteria and a pre-developed plan. The mayor makes efforts to create conditions for investments and to attract external resources for municipal projects. The research establishes the need for a more targeted policy for the development of the administration’s expert capacity and the transparency of the rules governing the consultation process with citizens and businesses.

The activity of the administration is organised in a way that ensures its adequate functioning, and along with the provision of complex administrative services and electronic services, there are mechanisms for periodic assessment of its work. A practice has been introduced for extended working hours for the employees of the Administrative Service Centre, which enables the provision of administrative services to citizens and businesses, tailored to the dynamics of their activity.

The administration ensures the necessary level of transparency regarding the activity of the municipality by publishing the documents subject to public discussion and the reports on the activity of the municipal enterprises. Access to the various registers is also provided, including the register of building permits and the general layout plan. A practice has been established to maintain feedback with citizens and users of administrative services through surveys available on the site.

The municipal council has a relatively good public image and, in general, its decisions are not the result of opaque lobbying. Councillors supervise the local executive, but are passive in fulfilling their main function of representation and maintaining a dialogue with society – organising receptions with citizens and businesses is not a common practice; although rules have been created for public hearings and for the establishment of public councils, there are no publicly known examples of their functioning.

The website of the municipality provides basic information about the business, which is adequately structured in a section accessible through the main page. In the section entitled “Information for the business” useful links are provided to “Interactive map with GIS functionality of Operational Programme Good Governance”; “Comprehensive scheme for the placement of movable objects and facilities”, “Profile of the buyer”, “Auctions/competitions”, “Orders of the mayor”, “Ordinances of the Municipal Council”, “Draft regulations”; connection to the Electronic Portal for services, etc. In the “Investments” section, information is published on certified and encouraged legal investments class B; the issued class B investment certificates; an up-to-date list of available land and other real estate for investment; forms and samples for applying for a class B investment certificate and use of incentive measures according to the regulation under Art. 22H, para. 1.

Local business has good opportunities for carrying out its economic activity. The created prerequisites for this are related to: adopted ordinances to ease economic activity aimed at minimising the administrative burden; created municipal structures for interaction with business; designated terrain for an industrial zone; there is no data on the application of a selective approach in connection with the control activity of the municipality or on exerting unlawful pressure. Local authorities have designated land to be designated as an industrial zone. In general, local business is passive in terms of opportunities to participate in or support local anti-corruption initiatives; some companies have a practice of participating more actively in forms of dialogue with local authorities, expressing their opinions regarding regulations and decision affecting their activities.

Civil society structures (media and civil organisations) have a limited contribution to public control of local government institutions. There are individual examples of active civic organizations that serve as the basis of civic activity in the region and unite the efforts of active citizens.