Plovdiv, Bulgaria
November 11, 2011
Changchun and Plovdiv Established Sister City Relationship
[City Profile]
Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and capital of Plovdiv Province with an area of 101.981 square kilometers and a population of about 365,000 (2012).
Plovdiv has been an important military strategic site since ancient times. It has been repeatedly affected by wars and earthquakes, and therefore experienced rises and falls several times. After the 1880s, it became an important site on the trade route between Central Europe and Asia Minor. At present, it is an important industrial, commercial, scientific, cultural and transportation communication center in the Balkans, a well-known exhibition city. The international railway from Belgrade to Istanbul passes this area.
[Resources and Industries]
Located in the center of the Bulgaria, Plovdiv has a good infrastructure, a large population and a well-developed transportation network. It is one of the largest economies in Bulgaria and has traditional advantages in manufacturing, commerce, transportation, communications and tourism. Since the late 1990s, its industrial scale has continued to expand. Near the city is the Trakia Economic Zone, one of the largest industrial areas in Eastern Europe. In the official statistics of 2014, Plovdiv contributed 7.5% of Bulgaria's GDP. With more than 35,000 companies in the city, it creates jobs for 285,000 people. In recent years, the IT and outsourcing services industries have grown rapidly.
