Sliven General Information
Sliven district is situated in the south-eastern part of Bulgaria It borders Veliko Tarnovo, Targovishte, Shoumen, Bourgas, Yambol and Stara Zagora districts. Sliven is a little south of Stara Planina and not far away from Black Sea. The district has only 4 municipalities – Sliven, Kotel, Nova Zagora and Tvarditsa. Sliven is 300 km away from the capital Sofia, the closest airport and the closest harbor are in Bourgas – 110 km, the Greek and Turkish borders are 130 km away. The town is 180-300 m above sea level.

The climate is transitional-continental. The winter is cold but relatively mild compared to other places in Bulgaria. The temperatures are averaging 1.5 C in January and 24 C in July. The rainfall is 598 mm per square m. The relief is of two types: mountain and semi-mountain in the north side of the municipality, and plain relief in the south side. The soils are of different types but most of them are fertile. The agricultural lands in the district are 709,600 decares. The municipality is poor in ores and minerals.

Forests account for 40% of the territory of the district.

65% of the people in the district live in Sliven. The density is 96 people per square km. 18% of the population is 15 years old or younger, 62% are between 15 and 65 years old, and the rest 20% are 65 years old or more. In terms of the age of the population, the common tendency for the country is that the portion of people 65 years old or more is growing up, while the portion of children 15 years old or less is going down – a proof of the fact that the nation is getting old. The urban population accounts for 75%, while the rural is 25%.

The registered unemployment is 15 %, a little over the country average.

Kotel is situated in a valley in east Balkan Mountains, 49 km north-east of Sliven. The town is called the cradle of the Renaissance in Bulgaria for it is the birthplace of many famous Bulgarians, proved historic figures from the national revival period.

Sliven dates back from ancient times. The Thracians were the first people to inhabit the town, after them there is evidence for the Roman Empire has been there. The first textile factory on the Balkan Peninsula was established in Sliven in 1834 by Dobri Zhelyazkov. He laid the foundations of the industry in Sliven.

Sliven Economy
Industry: Sliven’s most developed industries are textile, food and beverage and the machine industry. The leading sector of the economy is the processing industry – it accounts for 52% of the gross production in the district. Most of the production is exported

1. Textile industry – One of the biggest textile factories is situated in the district, Italian investment. It makes woolen, rayon, and mixed yarns. Other goods from the industry are carpets, socks, toilette accessories, towels, clothes and hand made carpets
2. Food industry is second most important part of the economy sector: flour, dairy and meat products, wine, canned fruits and vegetables.
3. Machinery construction – drilling, lathe machines and woodworking machines; cutting machines, agricultural machines

Other significant industries developed in the region are chemical industry – bricks and glass; woodwork and furniture; and construction

The fertile soils and the mild climate allow the development of the agriculture: plant-growing and stock breeding. Preferred branches are industrial crops (wheat, barley, corn, sunflower) vine-growing, cherries, peaches; pigs, sheep, cattle and bees.

51% of the employees are in the Service sector, 41% in the industry and 8% in the agricultural sector.