Investment knows no bounds in the heart of Bulgaria.
Stara Zagora is rapidly emerging as a strategic centre for automotive, renewables, global business services and infrastructure — attracting both local and global players.
Positioned at the heart of Bulgaria, the district offers unbeatable connectivity to major economic hubs via four key European transport corridors — making it a prime location for industries that value speed and efficiency in logistics.
Boasting one of the country's highest GDPs, its forward-thinking governance supports investors with an array of incentives, from vocational training funds to R&D grants and infrastructure financing.
We invite you to explore opportunities in this dynamic, innovation-driven region with us.
General info
The Stara Zagora district, with its 11 municipalities, has a population of 290,350, and covers an area of 5,151 square kilometres.
Compared to Bulgaria as a whole, the structure of Stara Zagora’s regional Gross Value Added (GVA) is industry-heavy: almost 70.9 per cent of GVA in Stara Zagora is produced by industry, compared to just 28.6 per cent nationwide. [3]
Economic aspects
Average salaries in Stara Zagora in 2022 were 10.6 per cent lower than the Bulgarian national average. [6]
Compared to Bulgaria as a whole, the structure of Stara Zagora’s regional Gross Value Added (GVA) is industry-heavy: almost 70.9 per cent of GVA in Stara Zagora is produced by industry, compared to just 28.6 per cent nationwide. [3]
Talent and education
Stara Zagora accounted for more than three per cent of all Bulgaria’s university students in 2023-24, (over 5,750), growth of almost 13 per cent from 2018-19. [9]
The share of people in Stara Zagora with higher education qualifications grew by more than three per cent from 2018 to 2022, to over 22 per cent. [10]
Stara Zagora has an experienced and qualified workforce specialised in engineering and technical skills. In 2021, manufacturing employed 37 per cent of the workforce. [11]
International rankings
In Reinvantage’s Business-Friendly Cities Perception Report* 2024, Stara Zagora ranks 7th in the Pool of Talent category and 8th in Infrastructure and Connectivity, as seen by site selection experts and FDI advisors. [12]
Additionally, in the geospatial part of the Business-Friendly Cities research, Stara Zagora ranks 8th in the Quality of Life category.
*The report looked at 78 emerging cities across the region with a population between 100,000 and 200,000.
In 2024, the Stara Zagora district was also named one of the Most Promising Micro European Cities of the Future by fDi Magazine, ranked 5th. [13]
The district also climbed one place forward and took the 2nd place in the category Small European Regions of the Future 2024 in terms of cost efficiency.
A few years back the municipality made IT a priority in schools, as well as the local Trakia University. Additionally, businesses are always involved in discussions and decision making (...) The municipality is supportive of potential investors and is eager to ensure the town progresses in the right direction.
Velizar Dimitrov, CTO, eDynamix
Electronics
Global business services
(including ICT)
Industrial, commercial and infrastructure equipment
Mobility and transport
(including automotive components)
Renewable energy
How Stara Zagora can become a leader in Bulgaria’s automotive revolution
Companies like Akwel and Nedschroef have already set up manufacturing centres, drawn by Stara Zagora’s competitive costs, skilled workforce, and incentives. As the region focuses on electric vehicle production and green technologies, it’s building a future-ready workforce and expanding its industrial zones.
Fostering innovation, attracting investment: Stara Zagora’s effective development strategy
Stara Zagora's mayor, Zhivko Todorov, shares insights into the city’s exceptional connectivity, growing ecosystem for start-ups and the automotive industry – as well as the green transition and commitment to sustainability that are attracting global investors.
Boosting entrepreneurship, innovation, and digitalisation
An EU-supported initiative is helping Stara Zagora transform into a hub of entrepreneurship, innovation, and digitalisation, focusing on high-tech production and knowledge-based services.
Stara Zagora’s Just Transition Fund opportunity
Bulgaria’s primary coal region is set to receive its first millions from the EU’s Just Transition Fund. Wiith 60 million euros allocated for energy efficiency programmes and 36.5 million euros for retraining coal sector workers, the region is focusing on reducing energy consumption and supporting employment.
Stara Zagora secures 122 million euro investment for solar panel production plant
The district is set to welcome a major investment of 240 million leva (122.9 million euros) for the construction of a solar panel production plant in Elenino.
Stara Zagora’s renewable energy potential
Positioning itself as a premier hub for innovation in the renewable energy sector, Stara Zagora is leveraging natural advantages with forward-thinking strategies to capitalise on one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
For further information
Additional resources
References
[1] capital.bg [2] Bulgarian News Agency [3] National Statistical Institute [4] National Statistical Institute [5] Bulgarian National Bank [6] National Statistical Institute [7] National Statistical Institute [8] Eurostat [9] National Statistical Institute [10] National Statistical Institute [11] Institute for Market Economics [12] Reinvantage [13] fDi Intelligence
Emerging Europe
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