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Country profiles Bulgaria
Bordering 5 countries and the Black Sea, Bulgaria is a country of about 111,000 sq. Kilometres (43,000 sq. miles).
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For a relatively small country, Bulgaria has a richly endlowed geography and varied climate. Ranging from the snow capped Alpine peaks of the Rila and Pirin mountains to the sunny shores of the Black Sea.
There are no less than 540 rivers across the country, including the important Danube which borders the North. The richest farmland is in the region, particularly the Dobrudzha (near Dobrich).
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Climate
Bulgaria has a temperate climate, with cool, damp winters and hot dry summers. The Balkan mountains in the middle of the country divide the climate into a cooler North and drier, warmer south, although the Dobrudzha is somewhat drier than average for the Northern part. Average rainfall is 630 mm a year.
In summer, temperatures in the south of Bulgaria often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, but remain cooler by the coast. A site near Plovdiv has recorded the highest known temperature: 46.7 degrees Celsius.
 
Politics and economy
Since the collapse of communism in 1990, Bulgaria has functioned as a parliamentary democracy. After initial falls, the economy based on free enterprise capitalism expanded after 2004 and continues to raise standards of living.
GDP growth is among the highest in Europe, at 6.% for 2007 Inflation is, however, on the increase, reaching 12.5% for 2007. The “credit crunch” and growing recession in Western markets is having only a limited effect on Bulgaria and estimates for 2008 growth are 5.5% and for 2009 5.6%.
Arable farming predominates over stock breeding and years of under investment is changing, with production increasing in recent years. A clear upward trend in farm income is establishing.
Key crops are wheat, sunflowers, maize, grapes, tomatoes, barley, peppers and wide range of fruits including grapes (wine).
Ukraine
The biggest country in Europe, Ukraine is strategically places between the EU states and Russia.
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Climate
The climate of the country is largely temperate, with a subtropical region in the Crimea in the South.
Winter sees regular snowfalls everywhere except this Southern region. The average temperature in January is about -8 C in the North-East and +4 C in the South of the Crimea. (South is reliable wine growing region)
Summer is quite hot and dry, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The fertile black soil is well watered in spring and autumn and gets plenty of sunshine in summer. July temperature varies from +18 C to +24 C.
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There is 600-700 mm of the annual precipitation in the North-West About 300 mm in the South-East, and 1000-1200 mm in the Crimean Mountains. Highest rainfall is in the Carapathian mountains at about 1600 mm.
Landscape
The territory of Ukraine is mostly a level, treeless plain, calls "steppe". There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and the Carpathians in the west, but they are not very high. Mixed forests of pine and fir-trees, beeches, limes, oaks and elms cover the mountains, but the thickest woods can still be found in the northern part of the republic, in Volyn. Kiev and Cherkassy.
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Fertile growing conditions
Due to its favorable climatic conditions, Ukraine is traditionally an agricultural area – the “breadbasket of Europe”. It grows wheat, maize, buckwheat and other corn, red and green vegetables, all kinds of fruit, melons and berries. Ukraine is one of the world's main centers of sugar production. |
In addition to large fertile farmland, the country is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, color metal, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay, Uranium and potential water power
Politics and economy
Since the fall of communism in 1990, Ukraine has had a bumpy path to political freedom and made uneven progress in developing a free enterprise economy. However, growth rates have been high. Average growth rates between 2000 and 2007 was no less than 7.5% (World Bank).
Metals, mainly steel, account for 40% of exports, but most of the growth is coming from manufacturing and services. Production of heavy equipment rose 22% in 2006. And Ukraine's software houses saw their exports jump by 50% last year, to some $250 million. Agriculture is also increasing its value of exports. The hryvnia's recent appreciation should not hit the export-driven economy,
Inflation has increased sharply in 2007 – 2008, hitting 21%. Economic growth for 2008 is forecast at 6.0 percent compared with a previous forecast of 6.3 percent and against 7.6 percent last year. |
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