Youth Take the Offensive

- Panorama Polskich Miast talks with Henryk Sobolewski, Mayor of Koszalin.

- In the recent years, Koszalin has become a city with a very high rate of growth. Its investment outlays constitute a considerable portion of the city budget. How do you, Mr. Mayor, evaluate the investment attractiveness of Koszalin?
- Koszalin is undoubtedly an attractive city for investors. This opinion is not only shared by city authorities, but has also been proved by a study conducted by the Research Institute on the Market Economy in Gdańsk. Koszalin has been rated as the 11th most attractive medium-sized city in Poland. We have obtained five high marks for the quality of our job market, social climate, business environment infrastructure, transportation accessibility and the effectiveness of economic transformation. What is more, the absorption of the capital market has been rated as outstanding. Business operational costs, city technical infrastructure and marketing activity have been regarded as comparable with that of other Polish cities. Only recreation opportunities have been rated to our disadvantage; however, this is a segment awaiting investors.

- The city is about to engage in a number of ventures aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of Koszalin. What are these goals?
- Bearing in mind both our residents and tourists who travel in large numbers to the coast, we intend to build an aqua park at the foot of Chełmska Hill, which is a traditional recreational spot for the residents of Koszalin. We are having discussions with foreign investors on this matter. Moreover, work on the construction of almost 6-hectare Papal Square will commence soon. In the square, a large entertainment, service and commercial complex will be built. I am convinced that these two investments will make up for the drawbacks in our tourism and recreation offer highlighted in the rating of the Research Institute. We are also awaiting the commencement of work in the city center, where as yet undeveloped parcels can still be found, and where the seats of several small and middle-sized companies will be built. It should be stressed that the number of new businesses is growing in the city. However, Koszalin still needs external capital, which would be invested in services, tourism, and the food and agricultural produce processing industries.

- Koszalin is a member several international organizations affiliating local governments across Europe. It maintains partner relations with cities in countries ranging from France to Belarus. What advantages do the city and its residents gain from these contacts?
- We attach significant importance to cooperation with states, cities and businessmen in Western Europe, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Koszalin actively participates in the promotion of pan-European ideas and the construction of a United Europe. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has already distinguished our efforts and awarded the city with the grand distinctions of the Diploma and Honorary Flag of the Council of Europe. Our local government has also established numerous contacts with international organizations and foundations providing aid funds. These contacts have already resulted in, among other things, long-standing cooperation with the American Agency for International Development (USAID). Residents of Koszalin have directly benefited from the assistance of our Swiss friends from Henisau, for example, who have been supporting local hospitals, orphanages and even the municipal economy. I could multiply the examples of our international cooperation. These relations are very precious for us, especially as they apply directly to the residents, local plants and most of all, youth, who most efficiently and quickly learn and take over novelties from their friends from Koszalin's eight sister-cities. These activities and relations are bringing us closer to the United Europe.

- The mean age of local residents is below 35. In a population of 112,000, there are 37,000 students. What influence upon the future development of the city does the youth and academic character of the city have?
- These attributes are among the reasons why Koszalin is quickly adapting to changing conditions and mechanisms of economic operation, as well as the changing social landscape of the city. Young people are visible in Koszalin, and they give the city its character. Thanks to their initiatives, the city has a fair chance of achieving dynamic and successful development. I do not need to add that students will soon transform into a well-educated group of professionals, who would constitute a splendid personnel pool for potential investors planning to run their businesses in Koszalin. Rapidly expanding schools of higher education and students make the city an academic center, which is best reflected in the cultural life and creative output of Koszalin. The large social group comprised of students also influences economic conditions in the city and constitutes an additional source of income for local residents. City authorities assist the schools and promote the young people and the future development of Koszalin.