The year is drawing to a close. I believe, and many people certainly share my view, that this was a very good year for Wroc³aw and its residents as well as for the entire Lower Silesia region.

We were very successful, as demonstrated by the numerous big investment projects worth a total of 3 billion euros, a good budget, 100,000 new jobs and the proper use of European Union funding.

This laid the foundations for what we plan to do next year.
I would like to ensure that we are successful in our efforts to host Expo 2012. We are ready to organize it and I believe our bid will be very attractive.

We would also like Wroc³aw to become the seat of the European Institute of Technology. We want to focus on a modern economy based on knowledge and high technology. An institution such as this in Wroc³aw would help us make the best possible use of our city's potential.

The year 2007 will not only bring big strategic projects. I would also like to focus on making life in Wroc³aw more comfortable and safer; simply better. We will focus on areas outside the city center, implementing a revitalization program to renovate old tenement houses, sidewalks and yards. We will also open a modern aqua park, one of Poland's biggest.

For me, the most important task it to make sure that we use the success of the past years and of 2006 to achieve more success in 2007 and beyond. And this is realistic.

I wish you prosperity and success in the New Year. May your dreams and plans, both big and small, come true. Let 2007 be even better than this year. My best regards to Warsaw Voice readers,
Rafa³ Dutkiewicz, Wroc³aw Mayor