The 15th Lider Conference ’48 hours’ has commenced, which is the 15th meeting of mayors and entrepreneurs taking place this year in Poreč.
Financing projects for urban and local needs is becoming increasingly difficult, necessitating the search for new models of cooperation between municipal authorities and the business community. The reduced capacity for financing communal infrastructure and public investments, along with the growing needs of cities, indicates a need for enhanced communication between the business community and municipal authorities.
The meeting of mayors and entrepreneurs highlights the need for an active role of cities and local government bodies in promoting entrepreneurial activity. It is essential to raise awareness of the need and possibility for cities to generate business activity that will contribute to sustainable development.
In the EU, regional policy is one of the most important, and in Croatia, more attention is being paid to the significance of cities, counties, and regions. The crisis presents an opportunity for regional policy and emphasizes the role of cities as generators of business activity.
The management capabilities of cities need to be improved for the benefit of citizens and entrepreneurs. Therefore, this gathering should highlight the developmental role of cities, how and to what extent cities attract investments, and how to enhance the competitiveness of cities. Good examples will be presented at the meeting – cities in Croatia and abroad that have integrated an entrepreneurial climate into sustainable development.
The meeting was opened with a welcoming speech by the editor-in-chief of Lider Miodrag Šajatović, reminding that the main idea of this conference is to gather mayors, their associates, entrepreneurs, and managers who have numerous points of contact and who must socialize, inform each other, and collaborate on business deals.
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– This gathering has been held since 2008, and interestingly, according to data and estimates from the UN, it was in that year that more people lived in cities than outside of them for the first time, and the fact that the majority of humanity lives in cities presents significant challenges for mayors – said the editor-in-chief of Lider.
The full hall of the Parentium hotel in Poreč was also greeted by Marko Filipović, the mayor of Rijeka and vice president of the Association of Cities in Croatia. Filipović stated that the work of the Association must be prominent and public, and it must be more present and express its views openly.
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– Our problems are also the problems of the citizens we represent – emphasized Filipović, adding that the meeting will address topics of digitalization and green transition, as well as many others that concern mayors and entrepreneurs.
– I hope for fruitful discussions and that the conclusions will be applied through legislative regulations – said Filipović.
Welcoming the attendees as the host, Loris Peršurić, the mayor of Poreč, expressed his happiness that such an important gathering is taking place in this city.
– There is much that connects and unites us mayors; we share the same problems, and this gathering is an excellent opportunity to learn from each other and even copy good solutions. One of the key roles of cities is to create a stimulating environment for the development of entrepreneurship – emphasized Peršurić.
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Tulio Demetlika, the deputy prefect of Istria County, greeted the attendees on behalf of Prefect Boris Miletić, highlighting that this gathering plays an important role in connecting entrepreneurs and representatives of public administration.
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Luka Balen, the director of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, reminded that the Fund has already implemented 50 thousand projects, among which green transition projects stand out. He announced, among other things, the upcoming announcement of a call for the Smart Cities project worth five million euros, as well as the energy renovation project for family houses, worth 120 million euros.
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