Government of Region Has Lowered Debt and Enhanced Investments

BUSINESS Government of Region Has Lowered Debt and Enhanced Investments Jaroslav Kania is the deputy governor responsible for investments in the region. His experience in finance and investments in public administration comes from his long-term job as a bursar of Silesian University in Opava. In his free time, he runs a ski school and finds relaxation in riding a quad bike. Mr Kania, just like a family, even the government of a region needs to run balanced accounts. And, just as a family invests in its children, the government of a region undoubtedly invests in its citizens. What are the priorities of our region? The region’s priorities range across all fields. When starting their mandate, the government of the region defined their priorities for the period in education, culture, health and social care. I can say that these priorities have been met. As for investments, in 2016, some 416 million CZK was invested in these fields; in 2020 the budget is 1,684 million CZK, which is four times bigger. The region’s economic priority was to lower the debt, and we have been successful in that, too, despite complications resulting from COVID-19 pandemic. Debts are definitely not increasing. It is difficult to foresee the development in the years to come: the new government of the region will have to find a strategy to maintain the tempo of investments and the quality of life of the local population. Significant investments in the region include the construction of an integrated centre in Český Těšín, worth 190 million CZK. I feel very happy that the government of the region achieved the priority targets, including workshops in the Frýdek-Místek Secondary School and the development of the Masaryk Secondary School of Agriculture and School Farm in Opava. Education is a logical field of your interest: you were a bursar at Silesian University in Opava for years. The government of the region is responsible for secondary schools, among others: how smart is the region when investing in modern equipment for schools? The question is how to interpret “smart.” Besides small investments in equipment for secondary schools, the modernization of technologies and purchasing cutting-edge machinery, we have invested in smart solutions in energy-savings and other concepts. In 2020, regardless of the current issues, our budget in education is 600 million CZK. That is enough finance to cover two principal projects, the first of which is the workshops in the Frýdek-Místek Secondary School, construction of which has already begun. The facility and technologies represent the total sum of 260 million CZK. Since 2016, we have already invested eighty-eight million CZK in another major project, the Masaryk Secondary School of Agriculture and School Farm in Opava, to build new classrooms and greenhouses and to prepare infrastructure for new stables. The total sum is going to reach up to 300 million CZK. Life is more than money; it also demands a good place and means of relaxation. How do you enjoy your leisure? I prefer four-wheeled relaxation, that is my great hobby. I love morning rides with my quad bike. Then I am back home, fresh and easy, at 7:30 and make my family breakfast. When I have the time, I help my son run a skiing and snowboarding school in Tošovice. We were among the first here who went skating. I also like cycling, and even though my bike is not electric (yet), it brings me great pleasure. And let’s not forget the garden, my wellness centre, a fine relaxation zone. Thank you for the interview. Text: Vít Ruprich Foto: archiv MSK www.msk.cz POSITIV 2/2020 ǀ 35