CROSSBORDER RURAL DEVELOPMENT

A CHANCE FOR FUTURE

RUSSE REGION

The Russe region is one of the 28 Bulgarian regions. It consists of eight municipalities – Ruse, Byala, Ivanovo, Tsenovo, Borovo, Slivo Pole, Dve Mogili and Vetovo, and the administrative region centre is the city of Ruse with 162 131 population.

The north border of the region coincides with the state border and it goes along the Danube River. Its geographical situation characterizes it as an important European and republican transport crossroad. Here is the only bridge equipment over Danube River on the territory of Bulgaria.

On the region territory, two of the European transport corridors (№7 and №9) are crossed and they ensure the connection between Baltic and North Sea regions on one hand and Mediterranean and Black sea on the other. Through the city of Ruse it is made and the connection between Danube river and Black sea on Bulgarian territory (Ruse-Varna). Here is also the final point of the Ro-Ro line between Ruse and Ukrainian city Reni.

The geopolitical situation of Ruse region gives wide opportunities for cross border cooperation in the context of the European regional policy, as well as with the neighbour regions, with which it was connected administratively and economically in different times and in different configurations.
Since the year 2000, the region is administrative centre of The North Central Planning Region, including the regions of Ruse, Pleven, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo and Lovech. In the city of Ruse it is concentrated a greater part of the administrative capacity of the region.

The economy of Ruse region has a relatively balanced branch structure, which is close to the national branch structure. It supposes a sustainable rate of development, that to be closed as a rate with the national one.

The regional economy starts a period of growth. The signals for that come from the data for GP, GDP per capita of the population and the investments. In the last two years (for which there is data – 2002-2003) the region economy starts intensely to catch up with the national one in most indexes, which are calculated on the base – per capita of the population.

Main growth force outlines the industrial sector. The enhanced sector dynamics is due to the reorientation of the markets from internal to external. The main power of the growing volume produced gross product is the increasing export.
The enterprises intensely reform their production and on the base of the existing market situation start to work less for the internal market and more for export.

In 2003 the growth of export is almost similar to the join GP growth.
As a result there is an increased and speeding up increase rate of the investments. Half of them are concentrated in manufacture industry. Relative part of Ruse region in the total sum of the investments in Bulgaria is 2.2% for 2003. The rate of investments acceleration increases progressively, but this growth has still an overtaking character.
        The simultaneously membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Union in 2007 will lead to a strong impact on the regional economy. Too many companies likely will choose Ruse as a right place for “attack” of Bucharest market. The increased amount of investments and building of the market strategies including Romania gives good advantages to Ruse.

In Ruse District the necessary opportunities for a sustainable development of the tourist branch are given. The potential for the establishment of a specialized tourist product, which will offer alternative forms of tourism like cultural (exploration/knowledge), rural and ecological tourism, is determined by the very good geographical and transport location, the rich culture-historical heritage and the beautiful natural resources, concentrated on a comparative small territory.
       The three municipalities in the District - Ruse, Ivanovo and Dve Mogili have the best potential to offer tourist services. The most interesting objects are: The Archaeological reserve “Ivanovo rock churches”, the Archaeological reserve “Cherven”, the Basarbovo Rock Monastery, the Natural park “Rusenski Lom”, the countryside along the river Rusenski Lom, the Wooden park “Lipnik”, the Park zone around the hut “Prista”, the island “Lyulyak”, the Cave “Orlova chuka” a.o.

 A special tourist resource is the architecture of the old town of Ruse from the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Also well developed is the museum net in the district (region) – there are 19 museum objects.

  The hotel and restaurant base in the town of Ruse is very well developed. There are few nice hotels in the town: “Danube Plaza”, “Riga”, “Splendid”, “Bistra & Galina”, “Kristal”, “Lilia” and etc., and also a number of restaurants, cafes and clubs, which are satisfying the excellent taste of the visitors.