Doing Business in Pleven
The Pleven Economy
Pleven is the seventh-largest city in Bulgaria and the administrative and economic centre of Pleven Province and Pleven Municipality. Manufacturing is the largest sector of the local economy, followed by trade, healthcare and agriculture.8,3
Източник: Institute for Market Economics: Pleven economic centre3
The Institute for Market Economics groups Pleven with six neighbouring municipalities in the Pleven economic centre. It produced BGN 2,61 billion of output in 2021, and its value added grew by 62% in ten years. Pleven Municipality generates 80% of the centre’s value added, and its own value added grew by 75%.3
Manufacturing and the Industrial Park
In 2025 the Rubin glassworks opened its third furnace, an investment of more than BGN 140 million by German companies that Pleven Municipality describes as the largest industrial investment in north-western Bulgaria in 20 years. The furnace created 150 jobs and took Rubin’s workforce above 600, and the company’s three certified investment projects total more than BGN 250 million.5
Industrial Park Pleven, in the Telish area in the west of the city, was created by Tavistock Group Bulgaria and FairPlay International and is described as Bulgaria’s first certified green industrial park. It covers 193 495 m², with plots from 3 000 to 18 000 m², its own substation and 2 MW of free power that can be raised to 12 MW. Glass Contribution, the owner of Rubin, is its largest investor.4,6
| Company | Activity | Investment or size |
|---|---|---|
| Rubin (Glass Contribution) | Glass packaging | BGN 140 million+, 150 new jobs |
| Kayser Automotive Systems | Pipe systems, valves and tanks for cars | 5 269 m² plant at BPD Pleven |
| Commercial League – Global Pharma Center | Heart and Brain centre of excellence | BGN 12,9 million, 200 jobs |
Източник: Pleven Municipality: The glassworks opens furnace No. 3; Just Auto: German parts maker eyes Bulgaria; InvestBulgaria Agency: Certified investment projects5,7,11
Healthcare and the Medical University
Healthcare generates 15% of the value added in the Pleven economic centre, almost all of it in the city, and the University Hospital is the largest employer with more than 1 700 staff. Pleven Province has the highest number of general practitioners and specialist doctors in Bulgaria.3,8
The Medical University of Pleven was the first Bulgarian medical school to teach medicine in English to international students. It has 1 563 international students from 53 countries, admits close to 300 a year, and enrolled more than 600 first-year students in 2026.9,10
Workforce and Salaries
- 46 000 people were in work in Pleven Municipality, and 66% of residents aged 15–64 were employed.
- 29% of the municipality’s residents aged 7 and over have a university degree.
- About 4 000 people commute to work in Pleven every day from the surrounding municipalities.
- In Pleven Province, unemployment averaged 7,69% in 2025, and 33,1% of residents aged 25–64 have a university degree.
- The average gross salary in Pleven Province was 1 096 € a month in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Източник: Institute for Market Economics: Pleven economic centre; Institute for Market Economics: Regional Profiles, Pleven Province; Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market bulletin, fourth quarter of 20253,17,2
Pleven Municipality issues Class B investment certificates under its Ordinance No. 30. Certified investors get administrative services in deadlines one-third shorter than the standard ones and individual support from the municipality.12
Roads, Rail and River
The E83 Sofia–Varna road and the Sofia–Varna railway pass through Pleven. The extension of the Hemus motorway is planned to pass south of the city, and Industrial Park Pleven is 18 km from the motorway, 160 km from Sofia and 150 km from Ruse.8,4
Pleven has no active civil airport; a project aims to restore one at Dolna Mitropolia, about 10 km away. The province has river ports on the Danube near Nikopol and Somovit.8
Foreign Investment and Large Employers
Foreign direct investment in the Pleven economic centre reached 156 млн. € by the end of 2021, 151 млн. € of it in Pleven Municipality. Industry attracted the most, followed by real estate and by trade, transport and tourism. The chemicals trader EuroChem Agro is the largest company by revenue.3
| Employer | Activity | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| University Hospital Pleven | Healthcare | 1 700+ |
| Leoni | Cables | almost 1 400 |
| Rubin | Glass packaging | 600+ |
Източник: Institute for Market Economics: Pleven economic centre; Pleven Municipality: The glassworks opens furnace No. 33,5
Registering a Company in Pleven
Bulgaria has one national Commercial Register, so a company based in Pleven can be filed online from anywhere with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency’s Pleven office. After registration, the company deals with the Pleven office of the National Revenue Agency for tax and VAT, and with Pleven Municipality for local taxes and fees.13,14
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Agency, Commercial Register | 2 Hadzhi Dimitar St., 5800 Pleven | 0700 121 07 |
| National Revenue Agency, Pleven office | 43 Doyran St., 5800 Pleven | (064) 898 300 |
| Pleven Municipality | 2 Vazrazhdane Sq., 5800 Pleven | (064) 881 200 |
| Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pleven office | 1 Aleksandar Stamboliyski St., floor 3, 5800 Pleven | (064) 80 30 03 |
Източник: Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts; Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices; Pleven Municipality: Contacts; Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers13,14,15,16
The full steps, documents, fees and timings are in the guide to registering a company in Bulgaria.
Стъпка по стъпка
How to register a company in Pleven
Register an EOOD or OOD based in Pleven: choose the details, arrange a Pleven address, prepare and notarise the documents, pay in the capital, file with the Commercial Register and register with the Pleven tax office.
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Choose the company details
Choose an EOOD or OOD, select the business activity by NACE code and set the capital. The legal minimum capital is €1.
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Arrange a Pleven address
Provide a registered address in Pleven, supported by a lease, title deed or serviced-office contract.
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Prepare and notarise the documents
Prepare passport copies, the founding act or articles of association, proof of the address and a declaration of beneficial owners. The manager’s consent and specimen signature must be notarised.
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Pay in the capital
Pay the capital into a capital account and obtain the bank’s certificate that it has been paid in.
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File with the Commercial Register
File online with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 2 Hadzhi Dimitar St., Pleven.
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Register with the Pleven tax office
Register employees, and VAT when required, with the National Revenue Agency office at 43 Doyran St., Pleven.
Често задавани въпроси
Is Pleven a good place to set up a business in Bulgaria?
Pleven is Bulgaria’s seventh-largest city, with 88,058 residents. Manufacturing, trade, healthcare and agriculture lead its economy, the Rubin glassworks has invested more than BGN 140 million in a new furnace, and Industrial Park Pleven offers plots from 3,000 to 18,000 m².
How do I register a company in Pleven?
A Pleven company is registered in the national Commercial Register, online with a qualified electronic signature or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 2 Hadzhi Dimitar St. The online state fee is €28.12, and the company number usually follows in 3–7 working days. Tax and VAT matters are then handled by the National Revenue Agency office at 43 Doyran St.
What is the Medical University of Pleven?
The Medical University of Pleven was the first Bulgarian medical school to teach medicine in English to international students. It has 1,563 international students from 53 countries and admits close to 300 a year.
What is the average salary in Pleven?
The average gross monthly salary in Pleven Province was €1,096 in the fourth quarter of 2025.
How do I get to Pleven?
The E83 Sofia–Varna road and the Sofia–Varna railway pass through Pleven. Industrial Park Pleven is 160 km from Sofia, 150 km from Ruse and 18 km from the Hemus motorway.
Източници
- City Population, from the NSI register of populated places: Pleven
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market bulletin, fourth quarter of 2025
- Institute for Market Economics: Pleven economic centre
- Industrial Park Pleven: Presentation
- Pleven Municipality: The glassworks opens furnace No. 3
- Standart: The Rubin glassworks and the Pleven industrial park
- Just Auto: German parts maker eyes Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Industrial Association: Pleven regional profile
- BTA: 1,563 international students at the Medical University of Pleven
- BNR: The Medical University of Pleven opens the academic year
- InvestBulgaria Agency: Certified investment projects
- Council of Ministers IISDA: Pleven Municipality Class B investment certificates
- Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts
- Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices
- Pleven Municipality: Contacts
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers
- Institute for Market Economics: Regional Profiles, Pleven Province
Данните са проверени 15 октомври 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. Figures come from the sources listed; check addresses and opening hours with each office before you visit.
