• More than 300 experts from all walks of life in the Metropolis took part in drawing up this Strategy, which was presented in the Guggenheim Museum at an event presided over by the President of the Basque Government, Juan José Ibarretxe.

The document was drawn up by this Association with the collaboration of more than 300 experts, most of whom were representatives from institutions and companies associated with Bilbao Metropoli-30, covering all areas of life in the city. Its title in English defines Bilbao as a global city: "Bilbao as a Global City".

In the Strategic Reflection we said that dreams come true in Bilbao. Now we say how it's done": the statement chosen to launch the document symbolises, in the words of the representatives of Bilbao Metropoli-30, the analytical approach pursued since 1999. "During that time", José Antonio Garrido pointed out, "we studied success models and cities of the future from all over the world to provide a referential context for the new projects currently proposed in the Strategy, which conform to the same strategic objective: the development of an advanced knowledge context capable of making highly innovative business strategies take on material form".

The document argues that the strategic infrastructures that constituted the main target of the revitalisation Plan for the 1990s, which have now either been completed or are perfectly defined for execution, have placed Bilbao alongside the most modern and pioneering European cities of today. "With The Strategy", explained the president of Bilbao Metropoli-30- "we see the opening of another stage in the cycle of revitalisation that was set in motion back in 1990. The launch period, which culminated in the construction of the Metro in 1995 and the Guggenheim in 1997, successfully fulfilled the objectives set and now lies behind us. Over the coming years, if the strategic actions are exploited to their full potential that should bring about the successful realisation of Metropolitan Bilbao defined as a global city".

Three fundamental elements

Strategy 2010 is founded on three basic elements: people, activities and the appeal of the metropolis. And at their core, as a supporting structure and strategic reference, lie innovation and knowledge.

• People: they have the knowledge and the Plan is made by and for people. For high value added business initiatives to take shape it is necessary for the role of leaders to be reinforced in developing Metropolitan Bilbao and to design mechanisms for training, keeping and attracting professionals.
• Activity in the City: high value added business activities are the motor force of the metropolitan system. To encourage these activities a suitable environment must be created providing immediate Internet access, support policies for innovative initiatives and the creation of intelligent infrastructures (IT systems, equipment for laboratories and areas of research, etc).
• The Appeal of the Metropolis: the Association Bilbao Metropoli-30 starts off from the premise that the city is a vital space, an inhabited place that must be liveable in, where the priority is to shape an environment in which human beings may find an atmosphere conducive to harmonious development where the personal and the social come together in solidarity.

Strategic projects

José Antonio Garrido affirms that "Bilbao stakes its future on joining the ranks of localities in the global world where value is created, and on being an attractive city for people with ideas and a city committed to projects of innovation. Over the last 10 years Bilbao has moved from a situation of rationalisation to one of innovation. Over the next 10 years our role in the global world will be put to the test. "Strategic Reflection" was driven by a spirit of creativity. "The Strategy" involves taking the hardest step: moving into action. "The Strategy" is of key importance, and emerged from an ability to dispassionately examine reality, identify opportunities and make responsible choices with a strong political will".

In line with this thinking, this document specifies a series of strategic projects that will set the Plan in motion in Metropolitan Bilbao, broken down into top priority projects, complementary projects and the promotion of certain values. In the words of Bilbao Metropoli-30: "In Strategic Reflection we said that dreams come true in Bilbao. Now we say how it's done".

Among the top priority projects, which would require substantial budgetary commitment to get them moving, four stand out in particular: the creation of a "city for innovation and knowledge", for which Zorrozaurre is an evident candidate as one of the suitable locations; the holding of a Universal Exhibition as a way of projecting Bilbao internationally and acting as a catalyst for a score of public and private initiatives; the urban regeneration of the Old Quarter of Bilbao to consolidate its role as a space for citizens to get together, with leisure, trade and culture as its foundation; and the cleaning and recovery of the River and its banks, transforming it into the articulating axis for an open multicultural society, and making it an identifiable and unmistakeable symbol of Bilbao City and of the socioeconomic dynamism of the areas through which it flows.

Alongside these "motor projects", top priority is also given to the establishment of a zone devoted to the promotion of activities of a highly innovative nature; to converting Bilbao into a place of encounter where innovative projects can be proposed and debated; and to encouraging "lifelong learning" and access to advanced knowledge.

The complementary projects that are contemplated, at a more moderate cost but with very significant implications in terms of effect, include the implementation of an advanced international programme of entrepreneurial management; the development of a coordinated system of metropolitan planning; a commitment to quality in the public services; taking care of ornaments, street furniture and the cleaning and upkeep of the city; integrating green spaces in the metropolitan area, such as parks and recreation areas; guaranteeing the safety of the general public; extending the knowledge of English as a lubricator for communication; and developing and publicising the corporate image of Bilbao.

Lastly, the document presents the values that must be promoted in order to achieve the strategic objective of developing a suitable environment for business activities with high added value content. Among them, with special emphasis on their role in providing support for the projects already described, the following are mentioned: doing normal day-to-day things well, as part of a professional culture; respecting differences so as to improve the quality of life shared in the city and guarantee the integration of all members of society; public awareness based on the meeting of obligations; and the fomenting of a welcoming attitude towards visitors to make Bilbao an open, friendly, receptive city.

As the document says, "the implementation of the projects and actions proposed will serve to place the metropolis of Bilbao up in the lead with economically dynamic cities: possessing a balanced territorial spread, where habits and practices of solidarity are common within society, advanced and culturally creative and committed to the conservation of the environment. And this will help to make Bilbao a point of reference as a competitive environment for business activities with high added value content".

WORLD FORUM OF VALUES FOR CITY DEVELOPMENT

With the aim of increasing Bilbao City's Appeal, Bilbao Metropoli-30 has established a calendar of events, including the World Forum of Values for City Development, to be held in Bilbao in 2006, whose purpose is to make visible the strategic values for the development of Metropolitan Bilbao; the European Institute for City Development in 2008; and the training of 150 leaders between 2005 and 2009, which constitutes one more step on the path of the Association's target of identifying and attracting leaders. This will involve the Association organising a Programme for "Executives and entrepreneurs who wish to be just that", dealing with subjects like company projects, government and management, property and the generation of wealth, shared leadership and strategic reflection.

Once again Bilbao Metropoli-30 contributes its long-term view, underpinned over the coming years by a series of events that make up a significant part of the latest phase of revitalisation which should lead us on to the next objective: optimising the triangle constituted by People, Economic Activity and City Appeal.

VIDEOS

• "Bilbao 2010. La Estrategia" multimedia video. (Real Player format: Modem / Wide bandwidth)
• Speech of Juan José Ibarretxe, President of the Basque Government (Real Player format: Modem / Wide bandwidth)

DOCUMENTS

• Bilbao 2010: Strategic Reflection (PDF format, 216 Kbytes)
• Bilbao 2010: The Strategy (PDF format, 346 Kbytes)
• Now, the People (Spanish, PDF format, 1.03 Megabytes)