Bernburg. Pure hospitality! That's what Jaroslaw's newly elected district administrator Kamil Dziukiewicz experienced during his first visit to the Salzlandkreis district. The Polish counterpart of district administrator Markus Bauer accepted an invitation this week to get to know the region and its people, together with a small delegation from the Polish partner district. After the visit, District Administrator Markus Bauer said: "I am delighted that our Polish partners have found the time to get to know us even better under the new district administrator. I think our partners now have an even better understanding of how our signature style shapes the region."
The two-day programme to get to know each other in the Salzland district was packed with activities: a tour of the Kreisverkehrsgesellschaft Salzland mbH (KVG), a visit to the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences in Strenzfeld, a cycle tour along the Saale river followed by a visit to the museum in Bernburg Castle, a reception with the district parliamentary group chairmen and, to top it all off, a visit to the Operetta Summer performed by the Mitteldeutsche Kammerphilharmonie at Bierer Berg near Schönebeck. Despite the intensive programme, there was also plenty of time for conversation.
Kamil Dziukiewicz had already been elected district administrator by the district council last year. District Administrator Markus Bauer had already congratulated him personally in Jaroslaw on the Polish-Ukrainian border and at the same time extended an invitation to the Salzland district. "Partnerships thrive on regular dialogue. That's why it's important to keep giving new impetus to the partnership. In this way, we can learn from each other and also expand cooperation beyond the administrative levels." The main aim is to get people in both countries enthusiastic about the respective partner region. International partnerships are also important in order to increase the chances of receiving EU funding for certain projects. Tilo Wechselberger, Head of District and Economic Development and Tourism at Salzlandkreis, knows how direct dialogue with partners on important topics can always generate new ideas. "We had very good discussions with KVG, for example. Our examples, feasible options and new orientations for modern mobility naturally also interest and occupy our Polish partners."
District Administrator Kamil Dziukiewicz was accompanied by District Councillor Agnieszka Pieniążek as well as Tomasz Dec, Director of the Jarosław Transport Association, and Agata Godos, Head of the Development and Promotion Department of the Polish partner district. The programme was organised by the District and Economic Development and Tourism Department. The district administrator thanked his colleagues for their efforts.
During the multi-day programme, Markus Bauer highlighted the impetus provided by the Salzland district in the area of tourism. The cycle path network, the Saalesteganlagen and Bodetreppen now characterise the Salzland district. "We initiated this development ourselves because it was important to us. We can now look back with pride on what we have achieved in recent years - despite tight budgets. A lot of things didn't exist here 30 years ago."
The district administrator revived the partnership between the two districts in 2019. The importance of close ties was demonstrated a few years later. In 2022, the Salzland district supported its partner district in caring for war refugees from Ukraine. Other areas of cooperation include vocational schools and universities, nature conservation and environmental protection as well as tourism and economic development.