The city’s dynamic mayor cooks up progress

The 46-year-old took the reigns of the city in 1999 though if he hadn’t you might find him in akitchen somewhere, plating up gourmet meals, as cooking is one of his passions. Kittner even shares some of his best-loved recipes on his personal website, as well as cooking competitions in the crowds and good community relations.
Liberec’s energetic and approachable city mayor, Ing. Jiří Kittner, is alively character, arare thing these days. Upon graduating from university in 1986 with an economics degree, Kittner started his career in Liberec at local crystal giant Preciosa, and later moved to Komerční banka (KB) where he worked as a loan advisor. In 1994, Kittner joined building company SYNER, s. r. o. and worked his way up to the position of Financial Director.
An avid traveler, the mayor has explored most of the world’s continents and tries to cross Czech borders at least twice a year. Given the fact that Germany and Poland are just beyond his  backyard it’s hardly a difficult task. Peru remains adream destination and France and Greece count among his favorite European destinations, especially for eating. Sampling spirits in Ireland and Scotland also rank among favorite Kittener adventures.
Despite his packed schedule, Mayor Kittner managed to set aside abit of time to chat with us about his beloved city, his culinary pastimes and what makes the city move.

What sorts of lifestyle chances have occurred in Liberec in the past ten years?
Liberec has changed a lot in the past ten years. The city has seen many changes in the workforce and architecture. While 20 years ago the city was in the shadow of Ústí nad Labem, today we have two large functional industrial zones, a large selection of leisure and sporting facilities. Apart from that the city has managed to build an infrastructure which has attracted investors and increased the quality of life for our residents. In my opinion, Liberec is currently  one of the most developed cities in the Czech Republic.

In which direction is Liberec heading and where would you like to see it in 10 years time?
I think it is now important to maintain our “well-running motor”so the city keeps on evolving. We need to work closely with schools, so in the future we have well-educated residents and also with investors who bring economic stability to the city. Last, but not least, it is important to concentrate on tourism. Tourism here has along tradition but today innovation and new ideas are very much needed in this area. In ten years time I see Liberec as one of the top Czech cities, aleader in the tourism industry, an affable city for both residents and tourists alike.

How has the economic crisis affected Liberec?
We’ve noted a decrease of incoming revenues in city coffers and also a great number of local firms have been impacted by the automotive industry. The industrial zones are operating and some businesses are even increasing their staff numbers. But, of course, some negative effects have been felt.

Do you try to attract foreign investment in the city?
Every city welcomes investors and Liberec is no different. One of the ways we tried to make the city attractive to investors was building of the aforementioned industrial zones, where today there are dozens of companies with foreign capital. But investors are also eyeing real estate possibilities and the past few years have seen a real breakthrough. The construction of new shopping centers and other projects have sprung up. We always try to deal with each investor individually and cater to their needs.

Why should an international investor consider Liberec?
Liberec boasts a high quality, well-educated workforce. The local technical university is one of the few institutions that has kept its focus on technical studies instead of following the modern trend towards humanitarian studies. Liberec has a rich history in technical fields.

Liberec has a controversial relationship with Germany. What is the city’s relationship with its neighbors today?
After the eviction of the German population from the region during the Second World War, Liberec was resettled by Czechs. A large portion of that expelled population moved to Augsburg, Germany. We have a very active cooperation with this city, and I must say that these people enjoy visiting Liberec and that they are always welcome here.

What improvements are underway for Liberec?
There is always something to improve and I would not be a good mayor if I did not see the city’s limitations and try to think of ways to surpass them. Lately, I have been observing the not-so-idyllic relationships between people, not only here but all over the world. The global economic crisis supported by negative, and often overblown, media coverage drives some of the nervousness the public feels. My wish is for everyone to frown a little bit less at each other.

You are a well-known gourmand. What is your favorite food?
Fine food is one of my great hobbies; this not only extends to consumption but also to preparation. I’m not particular. If someone wants to impress me it can easily be done with an ordinary meatloaf. I don’t always long for the gourmet cuisine of expensive restaurants, though I do admit that, from time to time, it is nice to pamper the taste buds in this way.

What achievement are you most proud of?
Probably every father will tell you that they regard their own children as their greatest achievement. I have one daughter and I am truly proud of her. This probably says it all.