Our First Vice President Władysław Ortyl hosted today a conference on the cooperation of entrepreneurs in the Carpathian Macroregion, which spans through the territory of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine, whilst Matteo Bianchi presented the Alpine Macroregion's best practices from the perspective of Lombardy.
The meeting hosted at the East Poland House in Brussels gathered high-level speakers from the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, Association of European chambers of commerce and industry as well as Lombardy and Veneto regions.
“The level of entrepreneurial cooperation in the Alpine macroregion is a role model for us in the Carpathians. As regional authorities we mobilise our SMEs to establish stronger cross-border ties. The support of business chambers is crucial to replicate the Alpine success story”, noted Marshal Ortyl.
Podkarpackie's regional government, business institutions and universities are working together to create favourable conditions for the development of business activity for Ukrainian entrepreneurs and SMEs seeking safe haven following the full-scale invasion unleashed by Putin's Russia. "Offering such support is necessary to ensure continuity for Ukrainian economy, it has added value in the context of Ukraine's EU aspirations, while it can also serve the strengthening of cross-border business ties which we want to promote through the Carpathian macroregional strategy" stressed the Marshal of the Podkarpackie region.
Sustainable tourism is one of the shared priorities of the two macroregions. Matteo Luigi Bianchi, coordinator of the Europe Department of the National Association of Italian Municipalities (ANCI) in Lombardy, presented the Alpine perspective in the event's second panel. "I cannot help but mention our innovative approach to hosting the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games in Lombardy and Veneto regions. It is the first time when the Olympics will be adapted to our regions and the existing infrastructure and not the other way around. All investments made have a long-term purpose that goes far beyond 2026”, our member concluded.