NEWS

The Mayor of Panevėžys City Vitalijus Satkevičius reminded the participants of the discussion that the Strategic Development Plan of the City for 2014-2020 is being prepared at present: " Discussions concerning the strategic direction of the city. Which direction has to be chosen: the development of dipoli with Šiauliai City and Kėdainiai or the strengthening of the city with the district and the whole region. There are plenty of thoughts and ideas but I hope that the working groups with the help of the residents will approve the way we have to follow. The measures increasing the attractiveness of the city to the investors will also be determined",- stated V. Satkevičius.

F.I.B.A. President Per Erik Schonberg-Hansen expects that Panevėžys region will be the most attractive to the investors in the future: "Geographical location of Panevėžys City and District is unique and that is an advantage. So, both municipalities have to work together in attracting investments. The number of inhabitants is decreasing in all over Lithuania, therefore we have to talk about the whole region not just about the city".

Besides, the President expressed apprehensions concerning the highway VIA BALTICA the load of which to the Latvian border is rather high and there are no plans connevted with the expansion of it.

The Mayor of Panevėžys District Povilas Žagunis agreed that municipalities have to cooperate more in creating favourable conditions for business and attracting investments: " We are ready to help people from industry or agriculture sectors. Every businessman or investor is respected and welcomed in our  district. We hope that the situation with Ramygala Industry Zone will improve as the distance from it  to the highway VIA BALTICA is just 30 metres. I do hope that common efforts will help us in becoming more attractive to investors due to industrial zones, favourable geographical location and qualified labour force".

The General Director of Panevėžys Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts(PPAR) Visvaldas Matkevičius also agreed on common strengthening of the region: " the activities of Chamber are based on regional principle, the Council of Regional Development comprised of the politicians from the city and the district is also functioning.  When the number of inhabitants is decreasing we have to attract them from neighbouring districts for studies and work at industrial companies. On the other hand, the region is really business oriented- the proportion of the number of inhabitants and functioning companies is over the national average. Besides, business structures(LIETKABELIS company, AMILINA company, SCHMITZ CARGOBULL company and others) are preparing for new investments and perspectives. The problem is that we are too little proud about our companies and their activities",- said V. Matkevičius.

"The Working Group of City Marketing and the consultants who compiled the study of the influence of metropolitran city zone noticed that there is a lack of information about our business, developement and investments, companies, production. Together with PPAR we have foreseen a system for spreading of business information. In such a way Panevėžys Region will be presented as the one  which successfully develops business",- said the Head of Public Relations Department , Coordinator of City Marketing Working Group Irma Gritėnienė.

The Director of Panevėžys Institute of KTU Žilvinas Bazaras regreted about huge emigration and the fact that nowadays Panevėžys is becoming a donor for bigger cities where youth leaves for studies. The Dean of Technology Faculty Jonas Valickas proposed Norwegian and other regional businessmen to get acquainted with the achievements in robotics: " Our laboratory of robots is the best in the Baltics. Our science reseach and experience in this field can serve very well industrial companies.

The Member of the Parliament Domas Petrulis stressed Lithuanian Chairmanship in European Union and proposed to use this possibility as much as possible.

In concluding F.I.B.A. President P.E. Schonberg- Hansen stated that the time has come to start a campaign I BOAST THAT I AM FROM PANEVĖŽYS ! Everyone has to ask himself as the President of the USA J. F. Kennedy proposed- what can I give to a city not just a city to me.