Funded by European Commission DG Research, 6th Framework Programme

Blagoevgrad (formerly Gorna Cumaya) is a province of south western Bulgaria. It borders Greece and Republic of Macedonia and lies on the Struma River, which is the natural link between Greece and Bulgaria. The area is part of the wider Macedonian region, also known as Pirin Macedonia. The province has a territory of 6449.5 км2 and population of 339 790. There are 14 municipalities with 12 towns. Its major city is Blagoevgrad, while other towns include: Bansko, Gotse Delchev, Melnik, Petrich, Razlog, Sandanski, and Simitli.

The province is characterized with diversified branch structure:

1. Food and tobacco processing industries Those are the mainstays of local industry; local firms specialize in processing of animal products, fruit, vegetables, tobacco, and liquor production. High export potential.
2. Textile industry Foreign investors have helped the development of many firms that produce ready-made clothing.
3. Timber and furniture industries The easy access to local resources makes gives that branch perspectives for development. Prevalently small firms. There are open foreign markets for furniture. Increasing interest of foreign investors.
4. Iron processing and machinery industry The past decade brought a decrease in the volume and intensity of those industries. Firms specialize mainly in production of metal constructions and details. Radio-electronic equipment and other electronic communication components are being produced.
5. Construction materials industry The terrain characteristics are suitable for the extraction of certain minerals, used in construction. Marble is extracted at numerous locations in Sandanski municipality, Koprivlen, Petrich, Strumyani.
6. Other Tourism, pharmaceuticals, plastics, paper, shoes.

One out of the ten existing international transport corridors passes through the territory – International Transport Corridor #4 (Germany-The Czech Republik- Slovakia-Hungary-Romania-Bulgaria-Greece/Turkey). A long-term objective is the construction of Struma highway, an important transport artery that connects the capital Sofia with a customs checkpoint at the Bulgarian-Greek border. Currently there are four such checkpoints in the district (two at the Macedonian border, two at border with Greece). The renovated road E79 and railroad CE-855 have international importance.

The particular cross border area is Petrich Municipality.

Size: 650 000 decares

Population:

Town of Petrich 35,134 (2005-09-13)

Industry: Metal engineering, Transport services, Textile and clothing, Electric industry, Construction

Situated: 90 km far from Solon (Thessalonica) port at the White Sea, where Bulgaria has an independent sector for commercial exchange on the Mediterranean sea and 380 km. far from Valyora port in Albania on the Adriatic Sea