REGION Opavsko
The Silesian
Metropolis Still
Growing and
Innovating
Reconstruction of the winter stadium. The construction of an aqua park. New apartment buildings.
A multifunctional cultural hall. The statutory city of Opava has not been idle. What does it offer
foreign investors and what else awaits it in the coming years? POSITIV Business & Style magazine
conducted an interview with the mayor of Opava, Tomáš Navrátil.
Mr Mayor, what is the role of the statutory city of
Opava in the development of the Opava Region and
the Moravian-Silesian Region?
Essential. Apart from Ostrava, Opava is historically one
of the most important centres. We are a catchment area
for more than 100,000 inhabitants. Many companies,
important institutions and schools are located here.
Many people commute to Opava to study, work, shop
or have fun. The prosperity of Opava thus also affects
the prosperity of the region.
What has the city been up to lately?
This should be assessed in particular by citizens. But
if you ask me, the city has finally started to deal with
age-old and, above all, long-unsolved problems. In my
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opinion, the basis of everything is the fact that we sat
down at the very beginning, put together project expert
teams and started to solve problems such as housing,
parking, transport, the use of historic buildings that are
falling into disrepair and leisure time comprehensively.
Thanks to this, we are now building a parking garage at
the Eastern Railway Station, preparing a new residential
area for the construction of family houses full of greenery,
and developing the Stromovka public space for living
in the former Dukel barracks where 300 new flats will
be built. We are participating in the reconstruction of
the Western Railway Station and in the construction of
the western part of the northern bypass of the city. I am
very pleased that we have managed to build dozens
of quality apartments for the elderly and we will soon