The vice premier and Minister of Economy – Lidiya Shuleva, opened the fourth international forum “Invest in Panagurishte”. Basic themes of the forum were the institutional and business development in the small municipalities, the national infrastructural strategies and projects, local infrastructural and industrial projects, a strategy for the development of tourism in the small municipalities, as well as strategies of the international programs and finance institutions for the development of the private sector in the small and average municipalities.
Over 500 business representatives from the country and abroad were invited to the forum. Last year they were about 350. Representatives of the legislative power and the government institutions in Bulgaria, local authorities, regional and branch enterprises, were present at the meeting. 
The international forum was pursued by a trade exposition. Its basic aim was to accomplish greater infrastructural and industrial projects by attracting native and foreign investors. For this purpose, the participants in the forum received rich updated information about the opportunities for the realization of infrastructural projects, for free material assets for contractors, as well as projects for development of separate fields and activities which need partnership.
The complex project for gasification of the region was also presented.
At the forum, Bulgarian and foreign participants became aware of the opportunities for investments and partnership, with specially prepared projects and the resources of the municipality of Panagurishte for that. The program includes 4 thematic business meetings.
Together with the forum there was a Trade Exposition, where over 10 from the leading local enterprises presented their activity.