In the end of June the fourth Phase of the Technical Twinning Programme between Bulgarian and American cities has expired Local Economic Development and marketing of Bulgarian Municipalities Project . It ended with an assessment regarding certifying of municipalities participants within the model Municipality Ready for Business Development . 12 municipalities were awarded with this certificate and among those the Municipality of Razgrad . The certification criteria included availability of a municipal economic development plan . Responding to this requirement and after the Decision N -75/23.02.2004 taken by the Municipal Council of Razgrad a Plan of Activity for 2004 of Municipality of Razgrad for Local Economic Development and International Cooperation was developed . The plan followed the selected by the municipality development strategy and the most important sections in it are activities in support of business . A significant prerequisite for the success of those activities was the availability of active dialogue between municipal administration and representatives of the business .

Encouraged by the idea to establish active and effective dialogue with business representatives the managerial staff of Razgrad Municipality, with the support of the Unit Economic Development, International Programmes and Cooperation organized regular meetings with business representatives . Through media the municipal managerial staff addressed an invitation to all business representatives and stakeholders to participate in this meeting . Personal invitations were sent to managers of developed and larger companies in the municipality and to managers of companies of social significance . Invitations were also sent to managers of companies, who have previously participated in similar meetings .

At the above mentioned meeting the mayor introduces to all attendants tasks already performed by the municipal structures on issues like economic development and initiatives in support of business and creation of attractive investment environment . The mayor introduced the members of the staff within Unit Economic Development , International Programmes and Cooperation . He also introduced all coming initiatives and tasks of the municipal administration, municipal council and the consultative committee on economic development .

Regarding concrete activities deputy mayors in different sectors usually participate more actively . They emphasize on investment activities , creating credible infrastructure for business development , participation of municipality in programmes and projects , alternative sources of funding , etc .

Introducing the activities in the field of economic development is performed through presentation , which provides the opportunity to visualize and accurately present all implemented tasks .

The managers and company owners address their questions and provide their opinion on the activities of the municipal administration. They also provide ideas and recommendations referring to activities in support of local economic development .

Next step in enlargement of the dialogue between municipal management and business would be the establishment of a Consultative Committee on Economic Development . At a meeting with business representatives in the beginning of September 2004, the mayor of the municipality introduced to all attendants the tasks of the Committee and suggested members of its staff, who were all accepted by the participants in the meeting .

• Prerequisites to establish public-private partnership in support of local economic development ;
• Enlarging commitment on issues like local economic development ;
• Generating new ideas in support of local economic development ;
• Prerequisites to improve the investment climate in the municipality ;
• Increasing transparency in the work of municipal administration .