WHY  INVEST IN PLOVDIV REGION: • Bulgarian EU membership since 1 January, 2007, NATO membership since 2004; • Highly-skilled, multilingual workforce at Europe's most competitive wages; • Stable and predictable business and political environment; • Free trade agreements with the EU preferential trade partners, including EFTA, Turkey, Mediterranean countries, Western Balkan countries, South Africa, Mexico, Chili, etc.; • Treaties for avoidance of double taxation with 61 countries; • 10% corporate income tax rate – the lowest in Europe • 10% personal income tax; • Lowest operating cost in Eastern Europe • Natural and cultural landmarks, tasty food and hospitality; • VAT exemption on equipment imports for investment projects over EUR 5 million; • Annual depreciation rate of 30% for machinery & equipment, 50% for new equipment used in new investments and 50% for software and hardware; • Agreements on mutual protection and promotion of foreign investment with 60 countries; • Acquisition of land and property through a Bulgarian registered company with up to 100% foreign ownership; • Crossroad between Europe and Asia markets INFRASTRUCTURE The following roads cross the city: The Euro-Asian transport corridor number 8 known as the Silk Road which is of great importance for Bulgaria and connects the countries from Middle Asia with those from the North Black Sea. Along this road are: Duras – Tirana – Kafasan / Kafasan – Skopje – Deve Bair / Gyueshevo – Sofia – Plovdiv – Burgas – Varna. Transport Corridor number 4 goes through: Dresden / Nuremberg – Prague – Wien / Bratislava – Budapest – Krajova – Konstanca / Sofia – Thessalonike / Plovdiv – Istambul.   Trakia highway passes to the north of Plovdiv (A1 for Bulgaria). It conducts the main transit of Plovdiv. The city is linked with the highway with three connections. Plovdiv Airport There is an international airport in Plovdiv since 1980. Plovdiv airport is located 10 km(6,21 miles) South East from Plovdiv on the main motorway Plovdiv – Assenovgrad. It serves passenger and cargo flights. Every year  the Plovdiv airport delivers over 50 000 travelers and 4500 tones of cargo. It serves as a stand-by airport of Sofia airport and when the latter is closed the whole traffic is transferred here. The Plovdiv airport is specialized in service of charter tourist flights to the mountain Bulgarian resorts. The airport offers high quality services for businessmen. It has at its disposal the required equipment and infrastructure for quality cargo services. INCENTIVES • A job creation tax incentive is applicable to companies hiring staff in municipalities with unemployment exceeding by 50% the average unemployment rate for Bulgaria • Production companies investing in municipalities with unemployment exceeding by 35% the average unemployment rate for Bulgaria are entitled up to 100% corporate income tax exemption. • A reduction of the corporate tax up to 10% of the value of qualifying assets is applicable provided the acquired assets are used in municipalities with unemployment exceeding by 50% the average unemployment rate for Bulgaria. • Licensed real estate investment trusts and collective investment schemes are exempt from corporate tax