Investments in modernity

Attracting investors and creating new workplaces is for Elblag - city with a quite high unemployment rate -the task of major importance. Local authorities focus their attention on this challenge.

We act in many fields promoting the city both domestically and abroad, showing our advantages. We have implemented the system of tax allowances and the system of formal procedures conveniences - says Mr Henryk Slonina, Mayor of Elblag. - In the city there is also located the subzone of Warminsko-Mazurska Special Economic Zone offering businesses income tax allowances.

These are not the only measures that Elblag takes to attract businesses. This year 90 million PLN has is allocated to municipal investment projects. Add the EU funds for the technical infrastructure to complete the picture. In this way new investment areas are being prepared. The best example may be Modrzewina South, the district where in 2007 the Technological Park is to be created.

We take up numerous measures to stimulate economic growth - explains Mayor Slonina. - We modernized transportation system by constructing new bridge over the Elblag river, together with the whole road system around the bridge. Due to the construction of Elblag-East multilevel road junction, we have managed to incorporate the city in the still modernized international road system of express roads no. 7 and no. 22 joining them with Grzechotki-Mamonowo II Polish - Russian border checkpoint. Another idea for strengthening the city's position is development of the sea port. In the end of October 2005 the new cargo terminal was opened.

The city authorities know that the technical infrastructure and investment area is not all what is needed. Today we are taking care of well-educated staff. We have followed Swedish experience. To be more precise, experience ofRonneby, our Swedish partner city - says Mayor Henryk Slonina. - We have taken up activities with the aim of developing modern disciplines related to IT and logistics. We also launched the IT Centre. Its task is not only to train the professional computer staff but also to build broadband fiberglass networks and to create the necessary infrastructure for the development of IT branch.

The Centre is still under development. It is engaged in the creation of the Technical Park and the Entrepreneurship Incubator.