Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Corporate Office Center and Orientation Program
Municpality of Haskovo
Background
Haskovo Municipality stands with old traditions, culture and attractive opportunities for business development, based on good climate, geographic location, and natural resources. Series of meetings with local and foreign companies, operating in the Haskovo region have led to establishing the main problem areas for attracting investments: lack of information about terms and requirements - the key issues for an investment solution. All investors had to spend time and money with agents and attorneys in order to find useful information and details about local standards and local life. Red tape procedures, poor quality of work and indifferent behavior of public administrations also have also provoked these difficulties.
Haskovo Municipality stands with old traditions, culture and attractive opportunities for business development, based on good climate, geographic location, and natural resources. Series of meetings with local and foreign companies, operating in the Haskovo region have led to establishing the main problem areas for attracting investments: lack of information about terms and requirements - the key issues for an investment solution. All investors had to spend time and money with agents and attorneys in order to find useful information and details about local standards and local life. Red tape procedures, poor quality of work and indifferent behavior of public administrations also have also provoked these difficulties.
Practice
Initially a project team was formed, consisting of 6 chief administrators from Haskovo Municipality (Administrative and Financial unit, Municipal Property, Architecture and Urban Planning, Agricultural Policy, Economic activities and consumer protection, Legal Services), 6 municipal councilors, all involved in different Municipality committees; and representatives of local state institutions such as Regional Environmental Inspectorate, Labour Bureau etc. This team started collecting different types of information and shares responsibilities for its processing. A general forum was carried out at local level, including foreign investors in the region. Participants shared experience and various problems, helping each other with suggestions for improving activity and communication with municipal administration and citizens. The content of informational package (Orientation program) was widely discussed in order to contain most useful information for the prospective investors. All companies participating in the meeting provided financial support for the creation of a municipal portfolio which would also give an idea of the business initiatives taking place in Haskovo and the region. Haskovo municipality published advertisements of its sponsors, thus raising one third of the amount needed for the brochure publication.
Information was gathered in cooperation with representatives of other institutions from the Team. Structure, design and translations of the brochure were carried out by Griff Publishing House, Plovdiv. Griff has used also the experience of its American partners from Abington, Pennsylvania in developing the forms and ways of arranging all materials regarding the Marketing profile of Haskovo Municipality. US partners also suggested certain enclosures with updateable information.
The second stage was the development of the Orientation program for attracting more investors to the region. The program is still being elaborated due to the large amount and different types of information. It comprises all juridical regulations and laws, valid for local companies and for international ones as well. An innovative element is the comprehensive coverage of the Local Taxes and Charges Act, emphasizing on the fact that local authorities are responsible for defining various taxes and charges for the region, aiming at best possible life standard for all residents. Also the program provides information on all rentable sites in the region and details for purchasing procedures, concessions, etc. and all terms and preferences, available for each potential investor. Haskovo municipal officials, members of the Team, would provide a wide range of information for each specific site or any issue of interest for the investors.
The next stage was creating a business profile of Haskovo Municipality. During their visit in USA, the delegates from Haskovo municipality witnessed a marked interest by US companies in opportunities for investments and joint initiatives in Bulgaria. The delegates reached the idea of creating the business profile of the region, organizing it in different branches and various sorting, depending on the number of employees in Bulgarian companies, thus using all preferences, available for small and medium sized companies. This is an innovative approach: the existing catalogues do not give the necessary information and full details for classification and businesses throughout the region. The Profile was completed at the end of November 2001. It includes numerous files presenting each company; copies can be made and the information is frequently updated. In that case the Municipality demonstrates mobility and service to readers, rather than publishing a luxury book every six months. If an investor seeks additional information, an e-mail is being sent to him with most recent data and he could consider any contacts with possible partners.
The fourth stage was developing tourist marketing of the city using a map and attractive presentation. The map would be an A0 format, framed and mounted in the main building of Haskovo Municipality. This would be a unique and very new type of information facility. Pictures of buildings and premises will be prepared by an artist and would be valuable pieces of art. Each image will be scanned and resized to fit a map format, and placed at the appropriated places. The presentation languages are English and Bulgarian and the information could be presented by a municipality officer in both languages. Both the presentation and the map are designed and prepared for every guest of the Municipality (foreign and Bulgarian delegations, friendly visitors, business trip groups, etc.). The map would be resized and prepared for distribution in a smaller format as well. The last stage is the idea of the Corporative Office Centre. It would be situated in the building of the present Small Business Centre (municipal property) which now accommodates Municipal press and NGO s. The mayor has provided more offices for rent by potential investors in the region. The Marketing profile, Orientation program, the Business Catalogue and the Tourist Marketing would be presented to the investors by municipal officers. Each investor will be offered an individual program (for a week, for 10 days, etc.). The innovative approach of this stage is indisputable; the overall presentation of this service has never been done before. It proves with no doubt the good care, hard effort and significance of this act of good will, which the Municipality is undertaking in order to support and improve the economic development in the region.
Initially a project team was formed, consisting of 6 chief administrators from Haskovo Municipality (Administrative and Financial unit, Municipal Property, Architecture and Urban Planning, Agricultural Policy, Economic activities and consumer protection, Legal Services), 6 municipal councilors, all involved in different Municipality committees; and representatives of local state institutions such as Regional Environmental Inspectorate, Labour Bureau etc. This team started collecting different types of information and shares responsibilities for its processing. A general forum was carried out at local level, including foreign investors in the region. Participants shared experience and various problems, helping each other with suggestions for improving activity and communication with municipal administration and citizens. The content of informational package (Orientation program) was widely discussed in order to contain most useful information for the prospective investors. All companies participating in the meeting provided financial support for the creation of a municipal portfolio which would also give an idea of the business initiatives taking place in Haskovo and the region. Haskovo municipality published advertisements of its sponsors, thus raising one third of the amount needed for the brochure publication.
Information was gathered in cooperation with representatives of other institutions from the Team. Structure, design and translations of the brochure were carried out by Griff Publishing House, Plovdiv. Griff has used also the experience of its American partners from Abington, Pennsylvania in developing the forms and ways of arranging all materials regarding the Marketing profile of Haskovo Municipality. US partners also suggested certain enclosures with updateable information.
The second stage was the development of the Orientation program for attracting more investors to the region. The program is still being elaborated due to the large amount and different types of information. It comprises all juridical regulations and laws, valid for local companies and for international ones as well. An innovative element is the comprehensive coverage of the Local Taxes and Charges Act, emphasizing on the fact that local authorities are responsible for defining various taxes and charges for the region, aiming at best possible life standard for all residents. Also the program provides information on all rentable sites in the region and details for purchasing procedures, concessions, etc. and all terms and preferences, available for each potential investor. Haskovo municipal officials, members of the Team, would provide a wide range of information for each specific site or any issue of interest for the investors.
The next stage was creating a business profile of Haskovo Municipality. During their visit in USA, the delegates from Haskovo municipality witnessed a marked interest by US companies in opportunities for investments and joint initiatives in Bulgaria. The delegates reached the idea of creating the business profile of the region, organizing it in different branches and various sorting, depending on the number of employees in Bulgarian companies, thus using all preferences, available for small and medium sized companies. This is an innovative approach: the existing catalogues do not give the necessary information and full details for classification and businesses throughout the region. The Profile was completed at the end of November 2001. It includes numerous files presenting each company; copies can be made and the information is frequently updated. In that case the Municipality demonstrates mobility and service to readers, rather than publishing a luxury book every six months. If an investor seeks additional information, an e-mail is being sent to him with most recent data and he could consider any contacts with possible partners.
The fourth stage was developing tourist marketing of the city using a map and attractive presentation. The map would be an A0 format, framed and mounted in the main building of Haskovo Municipality. This would be a unique and very new type of information facility. Pictures of buildings and premises will be prepared by an artist and would be valuable pieces of art. Each image will be scanned and resized to fit a map format, and placed at the appropriated places. The presentation languages are English and Bulgarian and the information could be presented by a municipality officer in both languages. Both the presentation and the map are designed and prepared for every guest of the Municipality (foreign and Bulgarian delegations, friendly visitors, business trip groups, etc.). The map would be resized and prepared for distribution in a smaller format as well. The last stage is the idea of the Corporative Office Centre. It would be situated in the building of the present Small Business Centre (municipal property) which now accommodates Municipal press and NGO s. The mayor has provided more offices for rent by potential investors in the region. The Marketing profile, Orientation program, the Business Catalogue and the Tourist Marketing would be presented to the investors by municipal officers. Each investor will be offered an individual program (for a week, for 10 days, etc.). The innovative approach of this stage is indisputable; the overall presentation of this service has never been done before. It proves with no doubt the good care, hard effort and significance of this act of good will, which the Municipality is undertaking in order to support and improve the economic development in the region.
Results
- Municipal officials and counselors, involved in the project have realized the need for operation between local authorities and society. They are convinced this is the only way to prosperity in the region;
- All project participants know about the problems of the international investor, no matter foreign or local, and they understand the importance of such mutual efforts;
- Local businesses show understanding of the efforts of municipal administration;
- The schematic diagram of the North Industrial Zone already developed is a completed plan for future location for doing business;
- The Marketing brochure is an impressive presentation of the municipality, used in international forums and facilitating the initiation of future contacts with business partners. It demonstrated its effect during the USA visit of the Bulgarian delegation;
- There is a possibility for multiplication of this practice in another municipalities. This is being already implemented in Harmanli municipality. The visit of the US delegation and discussions conducted inspired local authorities to repeat the steps of their colleagues of Haskovo Municipality. The team in Harmanli has been formed and it is already working on collecting the data necessary for the marketing profile; Haskovo municipality is in continuous contact with them and consults the team.
- Municipal officials and counselors, involved in the project have realized the need for operation between local authorities and society. They are convinced this is the only way to prosperity in the region;
- All project participants know about the problems of the international investor, no matter foreign or local, and they understand the importance of such mutual efforts;
- Local businesses show understanding of the efforts of municipal administration;
- The schematic diagram of the North Industrial Zone already developed is a completed plan for future location for doing business;
- The Marketing brochure is an impressive presentation of the municipality, used in international forums and facilitating the initiation of future contacts with business partners. It demonstrated its effect during the USA visit of the Bulgarian delegation;
- There is a possibility for multiplication of this practice in another municipalities. This is being already implemented in Harmanli municipality. The visit of the US delegation and discussions conducted inspired local authorities to repeat the steps of their colleagues of Haskovo Municipality. The team in Harmanli has been formed and it is already working on collecting the data necessary for the marketing profile; Haskovo municipality is in continuous contact with them and consults the team.
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