An Introduction to Bulgaria
The First Bulgarian Empire broke away from Byzantium in the late seventh century and achieved power and prominence in the region over the succeeding centuries, returning to its former masters in the early eleventh. After another period of independence and Empire, the area became part of the Ottoman Empire for five centuries before regaining autonomy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It emerged from Soviet communist influence in 1989 and embarked on a transition to a parliamentary democracy. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Europe (Other)
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GOVERNMENT: Unitary parlaimentary republic
AREA: 110,994 sq km
POPULATION: 7,364,570 (2011 census)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official language: Bulgarian
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Bulgaria
Not to be confused therefore with Viktor (with a k) Krum, Seeker for the Bulgarian national Quidditch team and Champion of Durmstrang in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, whom history will perhaps remember for less than a thousand years, despite his taking Hermione to the ball and catching the snitch in the World Cup Final.
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The First Bulgarian Empire broke away from Byzantium in the late seventh century and achieved power and prominence in the region over the succeeding centuries, returning to its former masters in the early eleventh. After another period of independence and Empire, the area became part of the Ottoman Empire for five centuries before regaining autonomy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It emerged from Soviet communist influence in 1989 and embarked on a transition to a parliamentary democracy.
Like Romania and other former communist states, Bulgaria suffered economically in the 1990s, and recovered in the next decade. It joined the EU in 2007. Typical Bulgarians are city dwellers (72.5% live in urban areas according to the 2011 census), home owners (97% live in privately owned and owner-occupied homes) and well-educated. However the forests which cover around 35% of its territory are home to brown bears, as well as some of the oldest trees in the world.
GDP: $101.0bn (2011 est.); per capita $13,597
Religions Orthodox Christian 76%; Islam 10%; Protestant 1.1%; Roman Catholic 0.8%; 11.8% no religion (2011 census)
Currency: Bulgarian Lev; 1.6BGN = $US 1
Telephone Code: +359
MR Association(s):
BAMOR (The Bulgarian Association of Marketing and Opinion Researchers)
Bulgaria is the 49th largest research market in the world, and the 25th largest in Europe. 10 percent of MR turnover comes from domestic clients and 90 percent from international. According to the ESOMAR Global Prices Study 2012 the country was the 64th most expensive for carrying out research.
Source: ESOMAR
Bulgaria now has a free market and a large private sector. Despite rapid recent growth its income level remains one of the lowest within the EU with an average monthly wage of 752 leva (Euros 384) in 2011. Its currency the Lev is pegged to the Euro and is 'the strongest and most stable currency in Eastern Europe' (Wikipedia) - it was expected to join the Euro in 2013 but is now reviewing its options in the light of the Euro crisis.
Productivity and competitiveness have been held back by a lack of clear policy direction and chronic under-investment in scientific research, but its credit ratings have recently improved, and the country once known as the Silicon Valley of the eastern bloc has a highly skilled IT workforce attracting foreign investment.
2011 exports were $26.1bn and imports $28.4bn. Clothing, metals and machinery were among the key products exported, with Germany, Italy and Romania taking around ten per cent each and Greece and Turkey around 8% (2010 figures). Imports centre around energy and raw materials including chemicals and plastics, ores, metals and minerals. Russia (16.3%) and Germany (11.8%) are the biggest sources.
Email me:
laurence@mrweb.com
