INTERVIEWS WITH THE KRYNICA FORUM 2023 PARTNERS
Prof. Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of the City of Kraków: Małopolska is once again becoming the hub of debate and idea exchange
Fostering entrepreneurship, pulling in new investors effectively, the smart city idea, and Ukrainian refugee integration are just some of the topics to feature in the Krynica Forum 2023 agenda, thanks to Kraków-related experts and others. Mayor of Kraków Prof. Jacek Majchrowski talks about the city’s involvement in the conference.
The City of Kraków is a Krynica Forum 2023 partner. What, from the standpoint of Małopolska capital’s mayor, is your view on the fact that Krynica will again be the host town for a major event, with the declared participation of Polish President?
I am immensely pleased by the knowledge that our region, thanks to the Krynica Forum, is once again becoming the hub of debate and idea exchange for the crucial social and economic topics of todays’ world. That is why Kraków is leaning into it. We are planning a broad range of activities in Krynica – the presence of city-related experts and our own panels.
Focused on which themes?
Given a very competitive global market, the capital of Małopolska is still pulling in young people who wish to nurture their talents here – thanks to, e.g., startups that are acting vigorously with local business incubators’ support or as a result of access to funding. We are successfully attracting investors and taking care of keeping many specialised companies active. This is just part of what we want to showcase in Krynica.
Krynica-Zdrój is a town whose qualities were made popular by Józef Dietl – regarded as ‘Krynica resurrector’. But he was also a great president of Kraków, a visionary. What can we find in Dietl’s legacy today?
Dietl was no doubt a visionary, but he knew that vision itself and zeal are not enough to deploy the necessary changes – gruelling, arduous works is required. Dietl was a champion of prudence and deliberation in action. He knew well the needs and struggles of Kraków, seeking the best solutions not for particular groups of interests but for the entirety of its residents. To this day, he may be an inspiration and a model to follow, as he proved he was larger than life, with a broad view of the ever-changing urban fabric, his ability to look ahead and the courage to put his designs into practice, to which we owe, for instance, saving the Cloth Hall from demolition.
Lately, Kraków has been playing up the smart-city idea. What are the main activities under this umbrella in the city’s development?
The mission laid down in in Kraków Development Strategy This is where I want to live: Krakow 2030 is to work towards a smart metropolis, one ensuring a high quality of life and building a creative economy. Kraków is among the select few Polish cities which see a growing number of residents. In our estimations, over a million people are living here already, not counting those who drive in every day for work or university studies. In addition, since the war in Ukraine broke out, nearly 180 thousand people have come to Kraków, of whom some left, but more than half remain. All this is reflected in the job market and in goods and services consumption levels.
Are the Ukrainians who sought refuge after the war broke out co-creating Kraków’s social potential now?
As is obvious, the citizens of Ukraine who live, go to schools and universities, work, develop new bonds and relationships in particular society not only add cultural enrichment there but also impact its economic growth. Many Ukrainians who arrived after 24 February are helping their compatriots by applying themselves in newly created foundations and associations and are organising integration activities of various types, responding to children’s and adults’ needs. What is more, Ukrainians are setting up their businesses, working in diverse industries, thus helping the city integrate the newly arrived refugees. This, too, is what we want to recount in Krynica.
The City of Kraków is among the Krynica Forum 2023 partners.
