Municipality Municipality of of

NikopolNikopol

Located in the Northern region of Pleven Area of 415.9 км2

Administrative center of the municipality Includes the city of Nikopol and 13

surrounding villages

Implements all the administrative, educational, cultural and social services for the population

HistoryHistory One of the oldest towns in Bulgaria

The earliest traces of life date back to the Stone Age in the region of Citadel Hill, were remains of Thracian times have been discovered / 1200-100 BC. /

Arose as a settlement during the Roman Empire He received the name of Nicopolis

- City of Victory

From this era dates the gravestone which is incorporated into the fountain Elia Built into the roman gable during the second century in

memory of his deceased wife In the nineteenth century archaeologist Dezharden

translated the slab into French

The largest period of development occurred from the 12th to 14th century

Tsar Ivan Alexander hosted the envoy to the Venetian doge here

In 1388, Ivan Shishman Nikopol sought refuge here and Nikopol became the capital of the state

Nikopol was conquered in 1395 by Sultan Bayezid I and the remainder of the land came under his power/ Sandzak /

1396 “Battle of the Nations” – campaign of 10000 knights led by the western Hungarian king Sigismund advanced against Turkish troops, but the campaign ended without success After the battle Bulgaria and the Balkan Peninsula finally fell under

Turkish rule Nikopol, the last royal capital, became the main administrative town

of Sandzak

Preserved from that era are important monuments to our national history national: The Rock Church of St. Stephen - XII-XIII century, which is

part of the monastery complex The Cruciform Church of Peter and Paul - XII-XIV century. The Fortress Kaleto

On July 16, 1877 the Russian army crossed the Danube and took the fortress of Nikopol, the first and only fortress which the Danube Russian Army captured with force

Today on the eastern hill above the town stands a monument commemorating this victory

After the liberation of Nikopol, although still a relatively small city, it is again the administrative center, running an active cultural, social and political life

ResourcesResources

The nature around is beautiful and diverse - from low valleys to high plateaus

The majority of the municipal territory is agricultural land

74% arable, 14% meadows and pastures and 8% wooded

NATURENATURE

Nearly 7 000 hectares within the municipality falls within the nature park “Persina”, and approximately 57% within the ecological Natura 2000 network

Nikopol is situated on the bank of the Danube River with wonderful places for recreation and tourism

Economy Economy Priority development sectors of the economy: agriculture,

hunting and forestry, manufacturing, trade, repair and maintenance of cars

Industrial sector "Battery" - AD - production of batteries for domestic and

military purposes ”Renom" Ltd. - manufacturing of agricultural equipment "Chayka” AD for production of workwear

The technical infrastructure is relatively well developed. The municipality has one electrical substation Nikopol - 110/20/6 kV. The installed capacity is 32 mVA / 2 units of power transformers of 16 mVA / .

Food production and processing sector "HOVE" - for the production of distillate and brandy "Dionysus" - AD - production and storage of wines and

spirits

The territory of the municipality contains13 agricultural cooperatives

Service sector ”Danube Nikopol” Ltd. - carpentry, tinsmith and other

services

More common economic activities: The processing of wheat, the production and sale of flour

and bread and the buying of milk and processing of it’s raw materials is carried out by existing dairies within the municipality The largest of which is "Elia – Milk” Ltd.

There are three banks within the municipality- “DSK”, “Post” and "Invest Bank” JSC. There is a branch of DZI and representatives of various insurance companies

TransportationTransportation There are daily trains and busses to the regional center

The port of Nikopol is a municipal port of regional significance Supplies of fuel and lubricants for the population is provided

by 3 gas stations and 7 petrol stations

Construction and operation of the ferry complex “Nikopol - Turnu Magurele” has became an important transport junction for international freight and travel

PeoplePeople

About 12 000 citizens live within the municipality - belonging to different ethnic groups including Bulgarians, Turks, Roma and others The largest percentage of people are aged 18 to 62 years -

51% The working population is employed mainly in agriculture,

hunting and forestry, manufacturing, trade and services, transport and communications and health and social work

  Our Greatest AssetOur Greatest Asset

As a result of economic situation most of the companies important to the economy have closed

Unemployment is one of the most severe problems for the municipality - In recent years, it has varied between 14 and 24%

Opportunities for Development in:Opportunities for Development in:

Tourism

Hunting

Fishing

Agriculture

Industry

Services

For the project- “Acquisition of Skills to Develop Public Activity Potential for

Local Action Groups in the Municipality of Nikopol”

GoalsGoals To strengthen the participation and organization

of local community development processes in the municipality of Nikopol, through the establishment of active partnerships at local level to implement initiatives to ensure continued sustainable development of the area

The unification of the local population around collective projects and activities to improve the economic competitiveness of the region, integrating environmental concerns and quality of life for all citizens

PartnersPartners Local authorities – Municipality of Nikopol

Business- “Elia – Milka” Ltd

NGO Sector – “Foundation for the Environment and Agriculture”

Expected ResultsExpected Results Review studies and analysis of the status and development

prospects of the region Develop strategies for local development Trained staff and local leaders to work on developing a

strategy Preparation of information materials and promotion of the

strategy. Hold a general meeting to elect a board chairman and

registration of the local action group. Submission of the documents by invitation for the selection

of Local Action Groups to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food

We Are Still We Are Still At At ТТhe he

BeginningBeginningGood luck!

Beginning

Why We Are Here TO LEARN MORE

TO LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION IN WHICH WE LIVE