News

We discuss the new city initiative with the First Deputy Mayor of Kielce, Łukasz Syska.

Where did the idea originate to exhibit at the expo with such an offer? 

- The idea is, of course, not entirely original, because the City has already attempted such exhibitions many times, but I think there has never been such a more profound thought behind it as to what it should look like. It often ended with - unfortunately - an empty expo stand with a few promotional leaflets of the city lying on it. However, with this approach, we organised it entirely differently, i.e. at a fully open stand that attracts visitors' attention with its attractive design. This is a stand where you can sit down quietly, have a coffee, conduct business talks, talk to city officials, talk to someone from the city authorities or get information about what interesting exhibitors or fair guests can do in our city after the end of the fair day.  Perhaps one could ask for advice on what restaurant would suit his tastes, one might find in our city. Maybe a tourist attraction worth visiting?

However, I assume that these meetings are primarily business in nature.

- Of course – the business dimension is of the most significant importance here;  our employees should meet business, regardless of whether it is external business or Kielce business. They have a chance to talk—about the problems of this business, how the city can fit into an entrepreneur's plans, and how it can support them. 

Is the city more focused on Kielce businesses, or those from other regions of Poland, or perhaps foreign businesses? 

Everyone is in focus -  I think that we often evaluate whether the mythical foreign investor who will build thousands of square meters of halls here is more critical or the entrepreneur who is already here and who also wants to develop. Both are equally important—we must help entrepreneurs who already operate in Kielce and those who wish to join us. This local accent will also be visible at our stand, which we plan to equip essentially using design elements and furniture produced mainly by our Kielce entrepreneurs during the upcoming trade fair. These include composite benches from Vive Textile Recycling and DS  Smith cardboard furniture, such as design elements developed by CreoConcept. This is to be a stand “made in” Kielce, which on the one hand provides space for talks with every entrepreneur, from Kielce and beyond, but on the other hand, it is also to be a place where we will boast that we already have great entrepreneurs here today. We greatly appreciate them, are proud of them, and brag about them. We also use their products to equip our expo stand. 

Can the City’s presence at the Plastpol trade fair be treated as a pilot program, or do you already have specific plans for activities during trade fair events, and do you expect particular results? 

I think we treat it more as a pilot program;  this exercise is not yet an "indicator" and "metered". We need to try and test how this will work. This year we plan to appear at least ten trade fairs for which it makes sense, because different expo offer different specifics. There are theme-hermetic shows, so there is no point in holding a city stand there.  

At consumer trade fairs, where most visitors are Kielce residents, the city's presence and stand may not be so significant. But if entrepreneurs are the main visitors—both from Kielce and from outside—the City should be there and talk to each entrepreneur interested in such a conversation. 

Do you focus on specific industries or, since this is a pilot, are you just exploring every market possibility? 

For now, we have chosen events that are more business-oriented and less consumer-oriented. These events include Plastpol now, the firefighting show in June, the MSPO in September, and a number of others. There is no single common denominator between them except that there is business—both local and visiting. 

Finally, referring to the advice for people from outside Kielce, what places and attractions in Kielce would you recommend to guests who visit us rarely and have the opportunity to get to know our city a little better?

I recommend Kadzielnia and the zip-line complex to everyone, as well as spaces for practising sports that can sometimes seem extreme. In Kielce, Kadzielnia as an example, we show that we have offer for everyone. There are four zip lines, a Via Ferrata climbing route, and cave routes. It's a paradise for people who want to do mountain sports, which are considered extreme, and they can do them almost in the city centre.

Thank you very much for the interview.

Schedule of meetings with representatives of the Kielce City Hall:

Tuesday, 20 May (2:30–4:00 p.m.) – meeting with the First Deputy Mayor of Kielce, Łukasz Syska

Wednesday, 21 May (11:00–13:00) – meetings with the Director of the Department of Climate, Environment and Municipal Economy, Aneta Boroń.

Thursday, 22 May (11:00–13:00) – meetings with the Deputy Director of the Investment and Architecture Department, Dominik Kwietniewski.

The Department scope of activities:

- issuing decisions on the conditions of development and location of public purpose investments,

- issuing building permits,

- applicable provisions of the landscape resolution.

Friday, 23 May (11:00–13:00) – meetings with the Director of the City Development Office, Anna Dwurnik.

The scope of Office’s responsibilities includes:

- spatial planning, including the development of the General Plan,

- service for investors and investment processes.

/ELS/