Second study visit to Sogndal Municipality

On 25 September 2023 – 28 September 2023, representatives of the Municipality of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski – employees of the City Hall, the Local Development Center and the Municipal Sports and Recreation Center made a study visit to Sogndal Municipality in Norway. 

On 26 September 2023, after a brief welcome by Sogndal Municipality representatives, entire group embarked on a walking tour of Sogndal city. This walk provided an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with the city's infrastructure, particularly those facilities dedicated to recreation and relaxation. Next, the group visited the Cultural Center, where they learned about the cultural offerings of Sogndal, including cinema, theater, and the library. They were also introduced to a new project – Sogndal Municipality is preparing a special space for young people to spend their leisure time. The group then proceeded to the "Science Center,” a place dedicated to promoting science and inspiring observation. The building is divided into several zones and stands as a great example of cooperation between private business and the local government. The last item on the day's agenda was a visit to the "pumptrack,” a specialized bike track. This visit allowed for the exchange of insights, as a similar track was opened in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski a few months ago. 

The following day began with a meeting with an employee from Sogndal Municipality's City Hall, a personal development trainer responsible for implementing positive standards among the municipality's staff. Trust, cooperation beyond divisions, and building good relations between the local government and residents are the main objectives guiding all Sogndal Municipality employees. Subsequently, the delegation took a walk through the educational campus of Sogndal, a place that combines sports, business, and educational infrastructure. This visit also offered a great opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Sogndal Municipality as the delegation toured the fjord – the second-largest in the world and the longest in Europe. On the same day, the group also visited a local fruit farm, a company specializing in the cultivation and supply of fresh juices and cider. This visit provided an excellent chance to learn about local traditions, production and sales regulations for such products. The meeting concluded with dinner at an ecological farm, combined with a tour to acquaint participants with the principles of ecological production.

This was another visit under the project “Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski – City ReNEWal”, which took place a few weeks after the visit of the Norwegian delegation to Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. It served as a summary of the Norwegians' visit to Poland and provided another opportunity for the exchange of experiences and solutions applied in Sogndal in the fields of recreation, education, culture, sports, and entrepreneurship. Mutual declarations of cooperation and joint development of the course of further visits and new ventures, in accordance with bilateral agreement No. 1/2022 dated 31 May 2022, became an important element.