Kick-Off Meeting

... a very interesting approach to transnational Public-Private-Partnership

On April 22 and on April 23, 2004, the official launch of the project VITAL CITIES took place at InvestitionsBank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB) in the city of Potsdam, Germany.

The primary purpose of this occasion was to meet and get to know one other personally. The retail trade situation in the partner countries was also discussed and the sub-projects within the framework of VITAL CITIES presented.
The chairman of the Lead Partner ILB, Klaus-Dieter Licht, and Dr Welf Selke from BMVBW welcomed the 43 participants from 7 different countries. Dr Selke emphasized, in particular, the importance of the project with regard to the integration of the new EU-Member States. The manager of Berlin's general association of retail trade, Nils Busch-Petersen, was invited to be  guest speaker. He explained his thesis: "Vital cities need vital trade" on the basis of the situation of Berlin's and Brandenburg's retail trade. Prior to 1989, west Berlin had pursued a trade policy of protection of the status quo.
Consequently, the selling area per resident had been very small comparatively. Over time this policy underwent changes not only but mostly in regard to the major retail trade companies which started to settle in Berlin's suburban areas. This led to an increase in the pressure on the companies situated in the city centre. City-centre commerce urgently needs vital cities in order to be able to function. A retail trade enterprise needs the following three things in order to be successful: the right location, the right location, and, of course, the right location. On the other hand, lively commerce is vital to a thriving city, because of the enormous influence of commerce on the popularity and magnetism of city centres.

Agenda (22.04.2004)

Agenda (23.04.2004)

Agenda (24.04.2004)