The Gdansk Metropolitan Area Association, which brings together 49 cities, towns, rural municipalities and districts, was honoured in the “Together for Development” contest awarded at the First Congress of Local Government Partnerships held recently in Poznan.

The Congress is an event presenting successful examples of cooperation between local governments and encourages even closer links. “In the Gdansk Metropolitan Area we have been doing this for nearly three years” said Michał Glaser, director of the Office of the Gdansk Metropolitan Area Association. “We have been recognised for, among other things, the complexity of our operations and broad partnerships and incorporating NGOs, academic institutions and business into our projects”.

The Gdansk Metropolitan Area is involved in, for instance, the organisation of training courses and workshops, the improvement of public services, the exchange of good practices in management and administration and other very tangible initiatives. Gdansk Metropolitan Area governments jointly purchase energy and fuel, making record savings of several million dollars per year. They prepare integrated planning documents and projects in areas such as water management and ecology and among many local promotional activities they also organise different events such as ‘Half Price Weekend’ during which guests enjoy a 50 percent discount in restaurants and cultural institutions in the Metropolitan Area.