Ostrava’s deputy mayor, Martin Štěpánek, traveled to MIPIM this week in an effort to attract new investors to the city, which in recent years has been trying to diversify its reliance on the steel industry and coal mining.
“I think it’s very important to be here to show investors that Ostrava is a living city that’s very keen to attract new investors, that there are opportunities and that we’re continuing to change our economy from one based on heavy industry to modern ones like IT and the automotive industry,” Štěpánek says.
He says while Ostrava’s plans to close several mines will impact thousands of residents, the decision demonstrates that the city’s drive to bring in new businesses. “We can create new industrial zones to attract more investors and create new jobs for people,” Štěpánek says. The city already has several successful industrial zones as well as the expanding Ostrava Science and Technology Park, where another 5,300 sqm of business space will soon be delivery.
