Sandanski Industrial Zone

Sandanski Industrial Zone

At the initiative of Alexander Manolev in 2017 a Memorandum for the construction of an Industrial zone – Sandanski was signed between the National Company “Industrial Zones” and the Municipality of Sandanski.

This is a project that, according to many experts, has huge potential. This industrial zone will be located:

– 500 km. from 9 European capitals and the largest city in Europe – Istanbul.
– 2 hours drive / or about 170 km. from the economic centers:

  • To Bulgaria – Sofia;
  • In northern Greece – Thessaloniki;
  • To the Republic of Northern Macedonia – Skopje.

It is located on the Pan-European Transport Corridor IV and is at the crossroads of two border checkpoints: with Greece and with the Republic of Northern Macedonia.

It can offer a highway connection to the port of Thessaloniki and is directly connected to the main railway line Sofia – Thessaloniki.

An additional plus for the project is the forthcoming completion of the Struma Motorway, which will allow for a quick connection with Sofia, Belgrade and Western Europe.

SME Enterprises

SME Enterprises

As a line deputy minister, Alexander Manolev initiated regular meetings with representatives of small and medium enterprises and their organizations to discuss operational issues and tools for the development of their activities.

The problems for business were discussed during the meetings; European funding opportunities; supporting exports and representation in foreign markets; introducing innovations and improving competitiveness.

Officials from other institutions and organizations also took part in the meetings.

The work in support of Bulgarian micro, small and medium enterprises was upgraded at a number of forums and specialized events. In 2017, for the first time, eBay held its annual event in an Eastern European country, and Deputy Minister Manolev was the only representative of the Bulgarian institutions who was invited to take part in it.

The children of Sandanski

The children of Sandanski

In 2017, on the initiative of Alexander Manolev, the “Children of Sandanski” campaign was launched. The initiative aims to highlight and encourage children who have shown talent, won prestigious places in Bulgaria and abroad and to encourage others to follow in their footsteps.

In its first edition, awards were given to children and young people from the Мunicipality of Sandanski who have achieved significant results in competitions or contests in the field of science, sports or art. For the official award ceremony in Sandanski was the world star in professional boxing Daisy Lang.

In 2018, the initiative was addressed to all children from the Municipality of Sandanski. In the last week before the Christmas holidays (December 14 – 20), there was a movie screening every day, where children and young people from the Municipality of Sandanski entered completely free of charge. The only condition was to prove with a document (ID card, student book, notebook, etc.) that they are not more than 18 years old and that they were born, study or attend kindergarten/school in the Municipality of Sandanski.

Hundreds of children are covered by the initiative, which has the ambition to continue to develop and build.