Bulgaria and the Northwest Planning Region

According to the EU Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), Bulgaria is divided into 6 planning regions (NUTS II level): there are three regions in the Northern part of the country – Northwestern, North Central and Northeastern, as well as three in the Southern part – Southwestern (incl. the capital Sofia), South Central and Southeastern.

Accessibility:

• Trans-European transport corridors: Corridor No. 7 (Danube River watern road) and Corridor No. 4 (Western Europe – Greece).
• Petrohan pass – the shortest road between Sofia and Northwest Bulgaria.
• Hemus highway (Sofia-Varna) through Botevgrad detour.

Natural resources:

• Gypsum beds of national importance.
• Deposits and quarries with inert materials for the development of building industry.
• Favorable for agriculture and tourism development.

The Northwest planning region comprises 5 districts – Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pleven and Lovech and covers a total area of 19,070 sq. km. The Northwest planning region is well connected by water and road. A second bridge over the Danube river is now under construction (near the town of Vidin), which shall provide the shortest terrestrial connection between Southern Europe and Central/Western Europe in 2012.

Source: National Statistical Institute