Silesian exposure

Wrocław is competing for the right to organize World Expo 2012 against the Korean city of Yeosu and Morocco's Tangier. The final stage of the competition began in Paris, where the first of the cities' three official presentations was held during a recent assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), which includes 98 member countries.

Wrocław wants the theme of the Expo to be "The Culture of Leisure in World Economies." Rafał Dutkiewicz, Mayor of Wrocław, explains that the topic was chosen because the leisure industry is having a significant impact on the economies of poor and developing countries.

"It offers a great chance for development for all countries without natural resources or industries," said Dutkiewicz. "A natural environment and cultural heritage have now become important 'resources of leisure' that attract investors."

International event

Kazimierz Ujazdowski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, and also head of the Polish organizing committee for Expo 2012, said that Wrocław's geographical location is an advantage over its Korean and Moroccan competitors. "Its closeness to Berlin and Prague would turn the Expo 2012 into a cross-border, international event," Ujazdowski said. "It could guarantee millions of visitors to Wrocław."

If Wrocław wins the right to organize Expo 2012 it stands to gain more than just international prestige. The whole region could use the event to develop its infrastructure, which would have a positive impact across Poland. "By using structural funds from the EU, Wrocław's airport, railway and road infrastructure could be renovated," said Ujazdowski.

In addition, around 40,000 jobs could be create in hotel, construction and service industries - if Wrocław manages to host the Expo, it can count on around 4.5 million extra visitors.

According to Wrocław City Hall's calculations, Poland's budget could receive more than EUR 300 (zł.1,140) million in increased taxes, licenses and insurance fees as a result of hosting Expo 2012.

Second time lucky?

This is the second time the city has applied to organize a World Expo. In 2004, the capital of the lower Silesia region lost out to Shanghai for the right to organize Expo 2010. However, Dutkiewicz highlighted differences in the current Wrocław campaign. "With the support of the government, our efforts went from a local to a national effort," he said.

The Mayor added that for Wrocław's bid to succeed, the government, the President and Poland's diplomatic corp need to be mobilized. Wrocław needs a majority of the 98 BIE countries to support its candidature in December 2007, when the host of the exhibition will be chosen.