1 500 new work places in Trakia Economic Zone for 2015, through 2016 projects started for a 50 million euro.
With 1500 new work places “Trakia Economic Zone” /TEZ/ ends 2015. We are expecting much more this year with the construction of projects worth a total of about 50 million euros, the good news reported Plamen Panchev. The Chairman of the Board of the Directors of “Sienit Holding” AD, the developer of the zone, specifies which companies have opened new production bases or expanded already existing ones in the region of Plovdiv and what the forthcoming investments are.
In the beginning of 2015, “Shtrom” put into operation a canery “Traki” for 4.7 million euro in “Rakovski” Industrial Zone, part of TEZ. Several batches of production are already sent to Russia, England and Italy, it prepares an export also to Germany. In 2014, the company bought 150 acres of farmland, growing red pepper for its own production and the rest of the raw materials it buys from local producers.
The American Sensata Technologies, No. 1 in the world of sensory and electrical devices, completed the first stage of its enterprise. She builds here because according to Tommy Verst, general manager for Bulgaria, “Trakia Economic Zone” is a combination of factors: near to the highway, it has an airport, guaranteed access to electricity and all infrastructure, the support of the local authorities, and the proximity to the Technical University gives the necessary qualified staff. Тhe forecasts are until 4 years for “Sensata” will be hiring over 1500 workers. In the first phase of the project was built a factory over 10 000 m2, and the total area is around 68 000 m2. For the last year the investment is 40 million dollars.
The Japanese company SMC Industrial Automation which is top 50 of the most innovative company in the world has bought 180 000 m2 area in TEZ.
Liebherr-Hausgeraete Maritsa, part of the German company Liebherr, completed the construction of the new logistics center, located on 32 000m2. It will increase the production in the factory- set- off, so that after the last expansion in the factory will be produced 1 000 000 refrigeration appliances per year. The equipment of the logistics center is currently running and the total of his investment is over 30 million leva.
The Italian Zobele, world leader in the production of home air fresheners, received 3 000 square meters in new warehouse and production in 2015, the investing is more than 2 million euros. With this extension, the enterprise already covers 11 000 m2.
In 2015, the 4th expansion of William Hughes, the UK’s automotive production company was completed, it has plans for a new one. The English are already 11 years in the zone “Rakovski” and they are investing about 1 million euro per year.
The fact that the logistics company DB Schenker triples his plots near to Plovdiv, confirms the sustainable development and the expected growth of the business in the “Trakia Economic Zone”. At the end of last year DB Schenker built a new warehouse on a 2000m2. A further 2000m2 is expected to be add in the middle of this year. The project is being implemented together with “Maritsa Logistics”, which develops the Maritsa industrial zone part of TEZ.
Until few days the Bulgarian Biofresh expects ACT 16 for her modern base in the “Maritsa” zone. The company includes production of the branded rose oil cosmetics, robotic warehouse and office premises in China. So far, the company has invested more than 5 million euros and continues to invest.
Near to the Biofresh and Trakia highways are the two halls of “Elena Properties” and “Sensor” /each with an area 4000 m2 and an investment 1.1 million BGN/, which with their strategic location are extremely appealing to companies developing their business in the field of trade light industry warehousing and forwarding.
The manufacturer of details for white goods “Mecalit Bulgaria” are starting new production in factory in the zone of “Kuklen”, part of TEZ. Before three years the German Mecalit stepped into Bulgaria to be closer to the main Western European customers exporting to the East and the main purpose was to supply the Liebherr, Bosch- Siemens Hausgeraete and Miele. In the wake of his desire to expand his business however the Plovdiv plant is now entering a new field- the production of plastic components for the automotive industry. The additional line has invested nearly 3 million euros and among customers are companies like Renault- Nissan, Volkswagen and Mercedes.
The German entrepreneur Rayner Sigmund from the La Fiesta second- hand clothing chain, in partnership with the BlackPeak Capital Equity Fund, began construction in March 2016 of a sorting plant for using textiles, which will be located in the “Maritsa” area. The investment in the building and sorting machines is about 2.5 million euros, with 120-150 employees in the company.
“The design of the Agrocentre “Kaloyanovo” has been finished”, inform eng. Panchev. The center will make it easier for farmers to access the market regardless of their size. At the first stage will be set up where manufacturers will be able to partner and so be suppliers to customers like retail chains looking for large volumes. At the next stage there will be also processing plants for juices, cans, etc. The entire investment will be over 5 million euros.
A new investor in TEZ is the manufacturer of steering and propulsion equipment “Villi Elbe Automotive Bulgaria”- a subsidiary of the German Willi Elbe Gelenkwellen, which in May last year bought nearly 20 acres near to the town of Kuklen. Now the design is over and the construction of the new plant begins.
Preliminary contract was signed with another German producer of car parts. A US engineering company also is interesting in investing near the city of Plovdiv, as well as a Chinese company for car components. The project of the Bulgarian- German “Entrama” for the production of machinery for the food industry. The bought over 20 acres in the “Maritsa” industrial zone. The final rights are negotiation with an international company in the field of electrical equipment. They started before half a year and they expected to end in a month. However, it has been decided that the investment will be in the “Trakia Economic Zone”. The factory will employ 1000 people. In the area around Plovdiv companies already have large companies in the sector such as ABB and Schneider Electric.
CONNECTION WITH BUSINESS- EDUCATION
ABB initiates together with “Cluster Trakia Economic Zone” a new approach in the “cultivation” of cadres. Mayor of Rakovski Pavel Guezgerov and the director of progessional high school “Petar Parchevich” Petar Karparov, support their proposal to teach children in the field of electrical engineering. “We decided to start a class with 2 specialties- marketing and electrical installer”- said Karparov. The students will be able to go into practice at both ABB’s factory and they will have work after their graduation. The factory will also have a cabinet in the high school. “This is the way to persuade children to stay in Rakovski and not to run into the big city. I hope other companies from TEZ will interest”, the director hopes.
“With municipality Maritsa and William Hughes we are considering such a possibility for the Kalekovec school”, talks about improving the business- education relationship eng. Panchev. He believes that this will help the integration and realization of the Roma population. This is already happening at the English company. And the foundation of “Bauezaks” after completing the training of disadvantaged people with a focus on Roma already is connects to TEZ with the people who looking for a job.
In the fact education has to change in a way that meets the needs of the business of cadres, initiated Plovdiv last year. “Cluster Trakia Economic Zone” supports this process by committing to more business investment in training, adapting educational programs, having more internships and more support for young people of directly fall into a work environment after their education. The Cluster also serves as a bridge to higher education and science works on European programs with investors, connecting our research units with foreign ones to apply global innovation in Bulgaria.
