Abington and Haskovo proved very committed in the first phase of the Bulgarian Resource Cities Program, which allowed them to successfully compete for continued financial support and participate in Phase III of the program. In line with the priorities of the municipality of Haskovo, the counterparts are developing a number of joint economic development projects aimed at improving the investment climate in Haskovo.
Counterparts completed the municipal marketing profile project and recently published the first marketing brochure of Haskovo targeted at potential investors. The brochure includes an industrial zone fact sheet, which corresponds to the concept strategy for the development of an industrial zone, a project that technical experts from Abington and Haskovo have implemented jointly. Following on the success of the marketing profile project, Haskovo has also completed a tourist profile and a tourist map of the city.
To better serve potential investors, the partners developed materials for an orientation program and published a catalog and profiles of Haskovo’s firms. The partners will disseminate materials such as the marketing brochure, the catalog of Haskovo’s firms, and a DVD presentation of the Haskovo region in Abington as well as in Bulgaria. To further respond to the needs of potential investors, Abington has assisted Haskovo to establish a corporate office center, which will serve new businesses.
As an unanticipated benefit of the partnership, the partners have developed a three-way relationship for technical cooperation between Abington and the Bulgarian municipalities of Haskovo and Harmanly. The partners have preliminarily agreed on a brief technical agenda that includes the development of a marketing profile for Harmanly. Haskovo and Abington will also provide technical assistance to Harmanly in project development.
The Haskovo/Abington partnership has been very successful in achieving its ultimate goal: improving the business climate and supporting economic development of the Haskovo region.