The upcoming period, strategically defined in the Guidelines for the period from 2009 to 2013 brought in by the Mayor, will be marked by a further development and implementation of initiated projects and activities, while realising new projects and programmes to respond to global trends and new demands imposed by citizens and the local economy.
During the term of office from 2009 to 2013 the realisation of large capital investment projects will precede, first of all, the realisation of the Bus Station, a new building of the City Library and a new building of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Also, further to growth in port cargo and increase in city transport, the City of Rijeka in co-operation with the Commune of Matulji and the Primorje – Gorski Kotar County intensively works on the development of the project of the intermodal and logistic zone Miklavlje. In addition to the development of modern road and railway connections with the port of Rijeka, the Zone will offer potential investors a series of opportunities through its capacities for the development of entrepreneurial programmes.
As regards the state projects in which the City of Rijeka participates with a partner, we should emphasise that the Rijeka Gateway project is approaching its key phase as in the course of 2010 an international tender will be advertised in order to choose a developer that will offer the best urban development, architectural and financial solutions to the Delta and Porto Baroš areas, new Rijeka waterfront project. Further to this project, the City has been putting more efforts on the development of the Rijeka Airport with the aim of introducing private capital of global partners specialised in managing air destinations, and the City of Rijeka has a proposal for other co-owners to draw up a model whereby private partnership would be introduced in the course of 2010 through public-private partnership or the company's capital increase.
In view of the economic crisis in the Republic of Croatia, marked by a fall in production and economic downswing, the City of Rijeka, among the first in Croatia has brought measures of entrepreneurial assistance. Through a reduction in utility fees, the monument annuity and a business premises lease, providing favourable lines of credit, the City has demonstrated that it takes care of the economy of Rijeka. Through the model of public-private partnership, and direct investment of private capital and joint project applications for EU funds – the City of Rijeka offers partnership to private capital, both domestic and foreign, new possibilities for investment. We are confident that in this way we will jointly contribute to resolving the economic crisis, and moreover, faster accession to fully-fledged membership of the EU.