The study covered 12 metropolises (Wroclaw, Warsaw, Tri-City, Szczecin, Rzeszów, Poznań, Łódź, Lublin, Kraków, Katowice, Bydgoszcz, Białystok) in which 7.5 mln persons live, which accounts for 19% of the entire population of Poland. 34% of the total GDP is produced in metropolises. Authors of the Report on Polish Metropolises stress that it is PwC’s third evaluation of opportunities and challenges faced by Polish metropolises (the previous two reports were prepared in 2007 and 2011).
‘This report is not a ranking; we look at the development of metropolises and suggest possible methods of shaping the city’s strategy by pointing out the most important strengths and weaknesses. It serves as a source of information for Wroclaw authorities about the most important challenges for the city and the strengths that can be utilised so that Wroclaw could develop at an even faster pace,’ says Professor Witold Orłowski, the main economic advisor of PwC.
According to PwC’s experts, Wroclaw has been the most dynamically developing Polish metropolis during the last 10 years.
‘We treat the results of the report as a challenge; we will analyse each individual index and arrive at proper conclusions,’ says Maciej Bluj, the Deputy Mayor of Wroclaw, about the results of the Report on Polish Metropolises.
Authors of the report made an attempt to evaluate the amount of development capital possessed by Polish cities. According to the methodology prepared by PwC, capital was divided into seven elements, which are called the “seven capitals” and refer to the following development areas: finance, investments, infrastructure, institutions, image, people and quality of life.
Biggest strengths and challenges
Wroclaw’s biggest strengths indicated by authors of the report include the favourable image of the city, its high attractiveness as an investment region, the increasingly better condition of infrastructure and the improving human capital. The qualities that give Wroclaw an advantage over other metropolises are the high quality of education and the valuable labour market.
‘The image of the city builds its attractiveness for investors. The recognisability of the city attracts not only tourists and inhabitants, but also a growing number of entrepreneurs, which only enriches the city and improves its status,’ thinks Mariusz Dziurdzia, PwC’s partner.
According to PwC’s experts, Wroclaw’s main challenges concern, among others, the improvement of public safety and the improvement of public transport and the increase of inhabitants’ participation in social life.
‘We know these problems and we take actions to solve them. We want Wroclaw inhabitants to be more active, so we encourage them to participate in social consultations and the civic budget that we develop,’ says Maciej Bluj.
Wroclaw in international and domestic rankings:
Wroclaw: one of the best cities to live
Wroclaw: one of the best investment places in the world – Global Cities of Future 2014/2015
Wroclaw in the forefront of European financial service centres – Financial Times
Wroclaw: a very attractive place to live – Poland Sotheby's International Realty
Wroclaw: one of the smartest cities – IESE Business School
Wroclaw: the place that attracts investors most effectively – Financial Times
