1. Bulgaria - Location, administration

Bulgaria is situated in the South-Eastern part of Europe. Bulgaria ranks fifteenth in size among the European countries. The country’s population is 8.291 million and the country’s territory amounts to 110,910 sq.km.

Bulgaria is located in the centre of a region that is undergoing dynamic transitions. Although most of the neighboring countries recently embarked on their way to a market economy, they already experienced stable economic growth which makes the Balkan region an attractive place for investment.

A network of international motorways crosses the country, making vital connections to Western Europe, Russia, Minor Asia, to the Adriatic, the Aegean and the Black Sea. Both sea and river transport (the Black Sea and the Danube River) offer good communications to and from the region.

The territory of the republic of Bulgaria is divided into 278 municipalities and 28 regions. Municipalities are legal entities and have the right of ownership and independent municipal budgets. The municipal council is the local governing authority that determines the policy for development of the municipality. The regions are administrative-territorial units that implement the regional policy of the central government.

 2. STARA ZAGORA - Location

The Stara Zagora Region is located in the central part of Southern Bulgaria with an area of 5725 sq.km and population of about 400,000 persons. The City of Stara Zagora in the heart of the Region with population of 200,000 persons is the sixth biggest city in Bulgaria. The climate is intermediate continental with an annual average temperature of 13 C°(54.4 F).

A major advantage of Stara Zagora in terms of trade is its location with transportation routes providing easy access to Sofia in the west (230 km); Bourgas’ Black Sea Port in the east (180 km); Rousse’s Danube Port at the Romanian Border in the north (235 km); and the Greek Port Alexandropoulos, in the south (230 km).

Due to its central location, the city of Stara Zagora lies on the main road linking the cities of Sofia and Bourgas, which makes the access to the main mountain and seaside ports quick and easy. The international highway linking Europe and the middle East (the Belgrade-Istanbul highway) also runs through Stara Zagora. The city has its own Customs house, Express services (DHL, TNT, UPS) and airport.

Stara Zagora serves as the central hub of an efficient train system connecting the Region with all Bulgarian cities as well as cities in Eastern and Western Europe.

The International Automatic Telephone Network provides the Region with a quality communication system. Stara Zagora is one of the two fundamental points in Bulgaria’s optic highway providing a communication system to meet the standards of international business.

Address:
19, Industrialna Zona
P.O.B. 409
Stara Zagora 6000, Bulgaria
Tel.: ++ 359 88 714711; ++359 42 620897;
Fax: ++359 42 620497;
E-mail: vplast@sz.inetg.bg

  3.1. History

1985	Establishment of VEREA PLAST as a part of DZU AD
1985-1997	Manufacturing of bathroom accessories, camping lamps 12V, electric torches 3V
1991	Separation from DZU AD as an independent firm
1997	Privatization of the firm – 100% private capital
Since 1997	Subcontracting manufacturing - plastic injection parts, electrical and mechanical assembly

VEREA PLAST AD, Stara Zagora is a stock joint company with 100% private capital and 15 year experience in manufacturing:
  • plastic parts for food industry, toys, household appliances, electronic devices (such as cash registers, printers, display housing, etc.)
  • mechanical and electrical assembly

  3.2. Management Board of Directors

• Mr. Todor Todorov - Chairman
• Mr. Mladen Stoyanov - Member
• Mr. Ivan Totev - Member and CEO

The purposes of the management are:
• Contract and subcontract manufacturing;
• Joint venture; in the field of plastic injection molding and assembly of household appliances, electric and electronic devices.
• Design and producing of own products.

  3.3. Structure

  3.4. Human Resources

The staff of the company are 86 persons (speaking English – 15).
The main features of the labour force of Verea Plast are depicted on the graphics below:

 

  3.5. Facilities

Production facilities	1600 m2
Other production facilities	1000 m2
Warehouses	800 m2
Administration and engineering facilities, services	900 m2
Total:	4300 m2

 

Allocation of facilities

1. Offices
First floor-300m² - see att. 1
Second floor-610m² - see att. 2
Electric power-AC 220V/50Hz
2. Production Area 1
First floor-600m² - see att. 3
Second floor-600m² - see att.4
Third floor-600m² - see att.5
Electric power-380V/220V;50Hz
Water supply-city water supply system
Reserve water supply-well
Fright Lift:150 kg³.
3.Production Area
Ground floor
Electric power 380V/220V;50Hz
4. Production Area 2 -see at.6t
Electric power 380V;50Hz
4.1 Plastic Injection Moulding Workshop-216m²
4.2 Production area-300m²

5. Warehouses-400m²
6. Production Area -600m²

Electric power-380V;50Hz
Electric Power Supply for the Plant one 20 kV line and a Distributing

See the map

  3.6. Technologies and Production Capacities

• Wide range of plastic products.

• Contract and subcontract manufacturing: electrical and mechanical assembly

plastic injection moulding

tool design and manufacturing

machining

High technology injection moulding machines for plastic materials:

Desription	Effort of close /kN/	Weight of injection mould part /g/	Distance between strain /mm/	Max. opening /mm/	Diameter of flange /mm/
PLUS 350/75 Battenfeld - Germany	350	50	280	500	110
BM 65 BIRAGHI MONZA – Italy	650	150	310	650	125
BM 85 BIRAGHI MONZA – Italy	950	300	360	950	125
BM 380 BIRAGHI MONZA – Italy	3800	1200	610	1400	160
BM 650 BIRAGHI MONZA – Italy	6500	3500	834	1600	200

  3.7. Major Business Partners

PARTNERS		PRODUCTS
Promotoys	Italy	Plastic parts and toys
Olivetti	Italy	Plastic parts
Ficosota	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
Ilinden	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
Datecs	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
IBI Trading	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
MHT Bulgaria	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
Svetlina	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
Hranmachkomplekt	Bulgaria	Plastic parts
Bulteh 2000	Bulgaria	Plastic parts and machining
Project M	Bulgaria	Plastic parts and machining

  3.8. Key Advantages

Highly Experienced Employees VEREA PLAST has highly qualified committed and disciplined engineers with English and Internet skills, experienced workforce at competitive labour costs.

Strategic Geographic Position

Due to its geographic position Bulgaria has the potential to become the central, low cost, high-tech production site for the Balkan region.

Stable Ownership and Financial Background

A dominant share package of VEREA PLAST is owned by the members of B.O.D. means business to invest in cooperation with multinational world known companies in field of contract and subcontract manufacturing.

  3.9 Logistic Support

Road transport

A. VEREA PLAST lies on the main road linking the cities of Sofia and Bourgas, which makes the access to the seaside ports quick and easy. The international highway linking Europe and the middle East also runs near to the company.

B. Direct shipment to the customer. There are well known European forwarding companies operating road-transport links from Bulgarian cities to Western countries. For informative prices see Table 1.

Air transport

Good road connection to the nearest international airport at Sofia. The distance is 220 km, of which 170 km highway.

Sea transport

The most appropriate routes from the Far East are via Varna /300 km to Stara Zagora/ or Thessaloniki /500 km to Stara Zagora/.

Table 1

Transport type	Destination	Truck/container size	Cost
Road transport	FOT St. Zagora - DDU Munich	20 t	1 500 – 1 900 EUR
		3.5 t	900 – 1 300 EUR
Sea transport	The Far East - Varna	20 feet	2 100 USD
		40 feet	3 500 USD
	The Far East - Thessaloniki	20 feet	1 700 USD
		40 feet	3 200 USD
	The Far East - Stara Zagora via Thessaloniki	20 feet	2 500 USD
		40 feet	4 000 USD

* The prices below are based on general offers of the forwarding companies. In case of a long-term contract, the conditions will be considerably more favourable.

Attachment 1 – Offices (first floor)

Attachment 2 – Offices (second floor)

Attachment 3 – Production Area 1 (first floor)

Attachment 4 – Production Area 1 (second floor)

Attachment 5 – Production Area 1 (third floor)

Attachment 6 – Production Area 2