site.btaTrakia Economic Zone, Dutch Company EIPO Develop Joint Project

Trakia Economic Zone (TEZ) CEO Plamen Panchev Tuesday discussed a future joint project with Eindhoven International Project Office (EIPO) Director Joost Helms, who is on a working visit to the city of Plovdiv.

"We want to build an even better ecosystem with TEZ, so we can present it in regions where people do not know about the zone and to tell its great story outside of Bulgaria," Helms said in a BTA interview. He added that TEZ does not compete with other economic zones in this country but with world regions. In his words, the zone has a good ecosystem in the Plovdiv region, linking education, business, local and state government, and it can compete with other regions through a joint project with EIPO. "Partnerships within Europe are essential for us to be on par with the US, India, China, and other developing regions,” the expert said.

Helms noted that in the past, Western Europe regarded Eastern Europe with a bit of disdain, "but there is an abundance of prospects for development here". He added that TEZ and EIPO are involved in socially oriented projects.

"You have a wonderful country, lovely nature, great wine, beautiful cities, and very friendly people. I can see a very good, bright future for Bulgaria in terms of its development," the EIPO director said.

EIPO is an organization that supports regions in their need to change through high technology, social, economic and industrial development. "The company was founded in a region in Eindhoven, which is recognized as the most highly developed hub in the whole of Europe. Many cities and regions are eager to learn how the region has developed, and we are open to sharing our know-how," Helms said.

The other company involved in the future TEZ project is the German BABLE. "We advise and help municipalities in their transition to smart cities and sustainable economic growth and in the development of regional innovation strategies," BABLE DACH Lead Nina Steinhauser told BTA. She added that her organization can offer Plovdiv a solution borrowed from another European region, as well as European funding opportunities.

"The cooperation has been discussed with the mayors of the municipalities of Plovdiv, Maritsa and Kuklen and with the Electricity System Operator, and they have backed it," said Plamen Panchev, who is also the founder of TEZ. His company signed a memorandum of cooperation with EIPO in June 2023.