Leading from the front
Andrzej Wróbel: Is your business experience an advantage to you as mayor?
Rafał Dutkiewicz: The fact that I was an entrepreneur has helped me a lot. I know what it means to struggle with the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and other authorities. I also worked as a human resources adviser so I know how to talk and negotiate with companies. For me it's easier to talk to bigger firms because I dealt with bigger ones. A lack of administrative experience might have been a weakness. Others might have considered this an advantage, because I had not developed any bad habits.
Businessmen create a specific environment. You need to talk to them directly; business is pragmatic. The more simply you say something the better. You keep your promise if you make one. You mustn't say it's rather not possible. You say it's impossible and you move on.
Why is Wrocław so attractive to foreign investors?
It's a good time for the city, which can be seen by the growing level of optimism and satisfaction among its inhabitants. Wrocław used to be a neglected city, especially after the war when nobody was sure about the outcome of the Yalta Pact and so did not know whether the borders would be changed. Only in 1990 did the city begin to make up for lost time.
The history of the city makes Wrocław a bit mysterious, undiscovered, intriguing. It has other assets, such as its geographical location in the center of the continent; it is a cultural and educational center with about 150,000 students, its industrial traditions, and most of all, the logistic solutions. We have good references from previous investors and many initiatives, which demonstrate our hands on approach, such as EXPO 2012, the European Institute of Technology, Futuralia and many others. This proves that we are constantly looking to the future.
At the New Year's Eve celebrations in Wrocław's Market Square you said 2006 would be a great year for Wrocław. What did you mean?
There are a couple of reasons. People need to be more optimistic, but at the same time they need a reason to be so. We have that. The economy is developing, especially here in Wrocław. The unemployment rate is decreasing. When I came into the office it was 14 percent. Then I planned it would fall by four percent, and now the figures show it will. Investments, such as those by HP or LG Philips, will generate new jobs because the recruitment process will start in 2006.
This year we are not going to hunt for high-profile investors. Now we want to surround the existing investments with smaller ones, such as components producers, which will also have an impact on the job market.
We have also tried to stimulate the residential market. This should accelerate this year because we are trying to create good conditions for developers and individuals who want to build their houses. The third thing is the quality and quantity of services satisfying educational, cultural and leisure needs. We should achieve these things this year that's why I am quite optimistic about the future of the city.
Next year, local elections will be held. Are you planning to run for another term?
I am in office until October. I will make a decision in the spring. First, I will have to reflect on the political and economic situation of the country and talk to my wife, to plan our family life for the next four years.
Interview by Andrzej Wróbel
