Photo from the official OPEN DAYS website.

From the 6th till 9th of October, Brussels hosted OPEN DAYS – European Week of Regions and Cities, in which Rīga was represented by Valters Māziņš, chairman of the board of SIA Jaunrīgas attīstības uzņēmums. The forum's focus was on competitiveness of local areas, innovation and the attracting of creative potential to cities.

Valters Māziņš in his address highlighted the competitive advantage of Rīga, which includes its location, investment in urban development, cultural heritage and art milieu, as well as the Latvian capital's current visionary determination to become a new, important and open metropolis in Europe.

SIA Jaunrīgas attīstības uzņēmums with its Riga Port City development was showcased as a good example of intelligent handling of the long-term development of an urban district. The project is intended to result in the addition to central Rīga of a compact, multi-functional, culturally diverse and resident-friendly living and working environment, the first of this kind in Rīga.

"In order to dissuade people from leaving them, major cities need to care for quality living environment and opportunities for growth and expression," Māziņš said. The elaborate future plans that are underway for Andrejsala include the opening, in the centre of the area, a hub of contemporary culture and thought. There, the main feature will be the Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art in a transformed former power station's building, surrounded by the offices of creative organisations, business centres, media outlets, design studios, galleries, exhibition spaces, schools and convention facilities. Thus, Rigans will discover a new and vibrant concentration of activities arising in the very heart of their city."

The 6th OPEN DAYS forum, organised by the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission, was aimed at fostering the discussions about regional growth potentials. Being the largest European convention for those involved in regional policy-making and cohesion, it attracted representatives from 216 partnering regions and cities.

Follow this link to view the official forum website.