Jerzy Materna, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Maritime Economy and Inland Navigation, took part in the signing ceremony of the Oder Declaration, which took place during the 5th Conference “Oder Waterway – Threats, Perspectives, Importance for the Economy” in Opole.
The Oder Declaration is a document that expresses the will to participate in the effective use of the opportunities provided by the restoration of water transport on the Oder Waterway, through the support of local governments in the Opole Voivodeship for initiatives in the business, research and development, and culture and tourism sectors. For the economy, it means including the share of water transport in the trade of raw materials and goods in planned business activities.
– Today’s ceremony in Opole is extremely important for our ministry. We are starting a feasibility study; all data regarding, for example, economic utilization are extremely important. Thanks to such wonderful support from local government, business and economic representatives, we are developing, we are moving forward – said the minister. He also announced that he would propose to the other voivodeships centered around the Oder to sign a similar declaration.
The document was signed by 21 local government officials, including: the Mayor of Opole, the Mayor of Kędzierzyn-Koźle, the district administrators (starosts) of the Brzeg, Kędzierzyn-Koźle, Opole, and Krapkowice districts, as well as mayors and heads of Opole municipalities along the course of the Oder. The declaration was also signed by strategic Opole enterprises operating on both the domestic and international markets in the cement, petrochemical, metal, and energy industries. Signatures were provided by representatives of the boards of: Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Kędzierzyn S.A., Petrochemia – Blachownia S.A., Fabryka Aparatury i Urządzeń “FAMET” S.A., Górażdże Cement S.A., Kędzierzyn-Koźle Terminale Sp. z o.o., and Cementownia ODRA S.A.
A declaration of cooperation for the revitalization of the Oder was also expressed by six economic organizations from the Opole Voivodeship: the Kędzierzyn-Koźle Industrial Park, the Opole Chamber of Commerce, the “Metalchem Industrial Park” Association, the Chairman of the Supreme Technical Organization Council in Opole, the Opole Regional Chamber of Civil Engineers, and the Opole Center for Economic Development.
Source: MGMiŻŚ