site.bta75% of Bulgarian Population Lives in Big Cities - Minister

75% of Bulgarian Population Lives in Big Cities - Minister

Paris/Sofia, September 1 (BTA) - Seventy-five per cent of the Bulgarian population lives in big and medium-sized cities, Bulgarian Regional Development and Public Works Minister Lilyana Pavlova said addressing the Smart Countries & Cities Congress in Paris.

Pursuing a targeted policy of sustainable urban development may counter the negative territorial processes and lead to strengthening and extension of the cities' function and role for balanced and sustainable social and economic and territorial development, said Minister Pavlova. The improved functional characteristics of the smaller and medium-sized cities allows the development of new economic activities diversifying the local economy and reducing the risk in relation to unemployment and incomes, including working conditions.

The Regional Development Minister pointed out that Bulgaria has adopted a National Concept of Territorial Development 2013-2025. The document presents the national and regional spatial development policy and the policy of sustainable urban development.

The Paris forum is held under the aegis of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. It has gathered together ministers, mayors, representatives of the business, NGOs and academic circles from across the world to discuss modern policies on the development of regions and cities.