16 . Glasgow Business September/October 2012
FUTURE’S BRIGHT FOR GLASGOW
Greg Clark works globally as an advocate and mentor for cities. Given that Glasgow is striving to achieve growth in its economy, attracting increased investment into the city – all part of the Economic Strategy – the Chamber has asked Greg to give us thoughts on Glasgow and its future
What makes cities so important in the globalised world of the early 21st century?
Globalisation is a major driver of our economies, our population movements, the way our environment is managed, our culture and our governance. Globalisation shapes the context in which national states and cities operate. It has increased mobility, and made more
of the content of any nation or city contested though international competition. Tis means that cities have to be competitive, atractive, distinctive and different. Cities increasingly act as junction boxes
for nations. Nations can’t succeed with poor or under-performing cities.
What are the most important features of economically successful cities from your experience?
Economically successful cities have atractive business and investment climates, productive infrastructure, unique local assets, and they define their own economic specialisations. Such cities develop a combination of both specialisation and diversification so that they have multiple points of leadership. A city needs a high level of liveability so
that the people want to be there and should also feature a recognisable identity and character, which would give it a unique appeal and recognition. A successful city must also have a visible
and articulate leadership, in its public sector organisations and its private sector and institutions. Medium-sized European cities such as
Munich, Zurich, Oslo, and Hamburg have created very atractive business climates which can support several different leading sectors and they have proactive leadership at city and national level that support them.
What is the role of the private sector in making a city successful?
Te private sector has many leadership roles in a successful city. It must lead the trading, innovation, entrepreneurship and wealth and job creation. It must lead the informed and calculated risk taking and it must support the positioning and promotion of the city as a whole. Te private sector defines what kind of
sector specialisation is possible in a city and how economic leadership will work. It can define what kind of business climate and skills are needed, where infrastructure
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