MUNICIPALITY  STRUMICA

BRIEF INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUNICIPALITY

In the southeastern part of Republic of Macedonia, just under the state borders with Bulgaria and Greece the fertile Strumica valley is located and in its western part is the eponymous Municipality of Strumica. The Municipality is characterized by 230 sunny days, favorable climate, healing water and natural rarities. Strumica is the economic and cultural center of southeastern Macedonia, which in recent years grew from agricultural to agrarian - industrial area. Historically, from Astraion to Tiberiopolis and to present day Strumica, the material and spiritual treasure of this city has increased overtime. Tsar’s Towers and other localities just like The Fifteen Holy Hieromartyrs of Tiberiopolis, the Orta Mosque, the late Roman spa in Bansko, the monastery complexes in Vodocha and Veljusa should be seen by any tourist or accidental visitor of Strumica.

The Municipality has adopted ISO 9001:2008 (quality management systems) & ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management systems). Further, the Municipality of Strumica has a B1 credit rating issued by the international credit agency Moody’s.

According to the territorial organization of local self government units as of 2005 the territory of the Municipality of Strumica was comprised of the city of Strumica and the following 24 populated surrounding areas: Banica, Bansko, Belotino, Veljusa, Vodocha, Gabrovo, Gradsko Baldovci, Dabilja, Dobrejci, Dorlombos, Zleshevo, Kosturino, Kuklish, Memeshli, Murtino, Ormanli, Popchevo, Prosenikovo, Raborci, Rich, Sachevo, Svidovica, Tri Vodi and Chepeli.

GENERAL INFORMATION

HQ of the municipality	Strumica
Address	St. "Sando Masev" no. 1, Strumica
Location (latitude - longitude)	N 41° 26 E 22° 38'
Contact	Tel. +389 (0)34 348-030;fax +389 (0)34 320-544
Email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Web site	www.strumica.gov.mk
Elevation	239 m
Area	321,89 km2
Population	54.676
Municipality celebration day	December 11 (Patrons and protectors day of Strumica)

TRANSPORT NETWORK

Highways, expressways and motorways	Indirect access to the highway A1 through the regional road R1401; direct access to the main road A4.
Regional roads that pass through the municipality	Р1302, Р1401, Р1402, Р1403, Р2432, Р2434
Distance from the municipal airport (km)
Alexander the Great - Skopje	132 km
St. Apostle Paul - Ohrid	258 km
Airport Thessaloniki, Greece	147 km
Sofia Airport, Bulgaria	237 km
Distance from the municipal railway
Railway Station Gevgelija	48 km
Railway station Miravci	38 km
Railway station Stip	66 km
Distance of the municipality from port (km)
Port of Thessaloniki, Greece	124 km
Port of Durres, Albania	422 km
Port Burgas, Bulgaria	572 km
Distance from the municipal border crossing (km)
Greece	46 km
Bulgaria	27 km
Serbia	163 km
Kosovo	169 km
Albania	270 km
Distance of the municipality from major cities (km)
Skopje	150 km
Thessaloniki	124 km
Sofia	234 km
Belgrade	565 km
Zagreb	953 km
Istanbul	710 km
Vienna	1.173 km
Budapest	937 km

HUMAN RESOURCES AND EDUCATION

Population: 54.676 inhabitants (according to the census of 2002).

Gender structure: 27.340 men, 27.336 women.

Ethnic structure of the population: 91,50% Macedonians, 6,87% Turks, 0,34% Serbs, 0,27% Roma, 0,62% other.

Educational institutions: Municipality of Strumica operates with 10 municipal primary schools with 14 regional schools with 5.645 students as well as three high schools with 4.053 students and one private high school, “Yahya Kemal”. Also, there are several institutions of higher education operating at the territory of the municipality:

• State University “Goce Delchev” - Shtip with dispersed studies in agriculture, informatics, economics and education Sciences;
• Private University “FON” with dispersed undergraduate and post graduating studies in the following faculties: Faculty of Law, Economic Sciences, Philological Sciences and Faculty of Detectives and Security;
• Business Academy “Smilevski” with dispersed undergraduate and post graduating studies in Operational Management.

Age structure of the population (2014)

Chart: Age structure of the population (2014) - Strumica

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Source: State Statistical Office, 2015

Active and passive job seekers

Number of unemployed people: 6.910 (as of 31.11.2015 ).

Chart: Unemployed people - Strumica

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Source: Employment Service Agency, Republic of Macedonia, 2015.

Age structure of the unemployed

Chart: Active job seekers - Strumica

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Source: Employment Service Agency, Republic of Macedonia, 2015.

Chart: Pasive job seekers - Strumica

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Source: Employment Service Agency, Republic of Macedonia, 2015.

Educational structure of the unemployed

Unemployed by education	Total	Men	Women
Doctor of science	2	1	1
Masters of Science	26	13	13
High education	451	155	296
Higher School	136	67	69
Completed secondary education	1.517	643	874
Incomplete secondary education	977	549	428
Completed eighth and without education	3.801	87	1.494
Total	6.910	1.515	3.175

LOCAL ECONOMY

Number of active business entities: 2.394.

Chart: Active business entities - Strumica

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Source: State Statistical Office, 2015

Dominant industries: Agriculture, food industry, textile industry, wood processing industry, construction, production of construction materials.

Chart: Number of business entities in the dominant industries– Strumica

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Source: State Statistical Office, 2015.

Main comparative advantages of the municipality: Proximity and connectivity to the European borders and markets, access to natural gas, arranged industrial zones, developed economy, favorable climatic conditions for agricultural development, rich natural, cultural and historical heritage and high quality of life.

Most important local enterprises: AD “Nemetali Ograzden” (non-metallic mineral raw materials), AD IGM “Elenica” (production of terracotta bricks for construction), AD “Sankeram” (production of sanitary ceramics), “Nikov” Dooel (furniture manufacturing), “Savelo” (furniture manufacturing), “Al-mak” Dooel (furniture manufacturing), “Izolmak fibran” (production of expanded polystyrene), ADPS “Edinstvo” (clothing production), AD “Strumica Tabak” (purchase and fermentation of tobacco), AD “Zito Strumica” (production and trade of mill products), AD “Grozd” Strumica (production of distilled liquors, soft drinks and carbonated and mineral water from its own spring), “Mabi trejd Dentina” (vegetable and fruit processing), “Agrokomerc” (vegetable and fruit processing), “Trgoprodukt” (vegetable and fruit processing), “Agrofruktus” (purchase – distribution centers for vegetables and fruits), “Al Maks” (production of edible oil), DTP “Maks” Dooel (packs of powdered and granular products), DPUT “Joka” Doo (milk processing and production of dairy products).

Most important foreign investors: A D “Strumica Tabak” - purchase and fermentation of tobacco (Greece); “Plodovi Fruktus” Dooel – purchase - distribution center for vegetables and fruits (Croatia); “Al Maks” - production of edible oil (Turkey).

Mineral resources: Presence of non mineral raw materials: feldspar.

Tourism and catering industry: 10 Hotels and motels, 27 restaurants and pizza restaurants, 10 coffee bars and 2 night clubs.

INDUSTRIAL ZONES AND LOCATIONS FOR INVESTMENT

Municipality of Strumica has several development industrial zones which have a well established infrastructure and signalization. The Municipality is responsible for the development and promotion of its zones therefore has established several advantages that apply to all industrial zones.

Municipal advantages for investing in the industrial zones:

1. Reduce the fee for arranging the construction land depending on the amount of investment, number of new jobs, use of domestic raw materials, production of finished or semi - finished products, introduction of new technologies, creation of new product range and the fulfillment of environmental standards;
2. Logistic support for investors by the municipal administration in securing all the necessary permits and approvals;
3. Efficient municipal administration working under the international quality standard, ISO 9001: 2008 and the international standard for environmental management ISO 14001:2004.