Forthcoming signing of Framework Agreement and contracts under scheme BG161PO001/3.2-01/2010 “Support for organization of events of regional and national scope and impact”

On 06 October 2011, Thursday, in the presence of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Mrs. Lilyana Pavlova, the Head of the Managing Authority of OPRD Mrs. Denitsa Nikolova and the Minister of Culture Mr. Vejdi Rashidov will sign Framework Agreement and 6 grant contracts under OPRD.

The funds are provided within scheme BG161PO001/3.2-01/2010 “Support for organization of events of regional and national scope and impact” and are a part of the approved Midterm Framework Investment Programme of the Ministry of Culture.  The Framework Agreement under the scheme is of total resource of BGN
6 238 348,62.

Six grant contracts will be signed based upon project fiches approved by Decision No РД-02-14-1771/ 29.08.2011 of the Head of OPRD Managing Authority. The total amount of grant in line of OPRD adds up to BGN 5 504 882,89.

The projects are focused on organization of events of regional and national scope and impact, contributing to development of sustainable cultural tourism, diversification of tourist supply and increase of tourism benefits. Support will be provided to festivals, outdoor activities, folklore events, presentation of regional and national traditions, cuisine, crafts, etc., contributing to diversification and marketing of the tourist product. The events will cover different regions on the entire territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Evens are planned for the well developed tourist destinations in order to diversify the traditional tourist supply, as well as events outside highly absorbed tourist areas that will contribute to a more balanced allocation of tourism benefits. Through a series of festivals in seven territorial focuses aimed at diversified target groups of tourists, conditions will be provided for selection of the Bulgarian city for European Capital of Culture in the end of 2012.

The grant scheme will be implemented by the financial support of the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund.

The official signing of the Framework Agreement and contracts ceremony will be held on 06 October 2011, Thursday, at the Ministry of Culture at 10:00 a.m.

By signing the abovementioned six contracts the total amount of OPRD grant will add up to BGN 1,951 billion, which is 62 % of the programme’s budget. The total amount of payments on OPRD projects until present comes up to BGN 523 million or 27 % of the amount of contracted funds and over 16 % of OPRD budget.