A major OECD conference is currently taking place in Warsaw, focusing on the future of regional development, resilience, and innovation in public policy. Under the title “Strengthening Regional Policy for Resilient Places,” the event has gathered ministers, policymakers, and experts from OECD member countries to discuss how regions can adapt to the demographic, technological, and environmental challenges of the coming decade.
The conference’s agenda centers on ensuring that regional and local areas are better equipped to manage transitions such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, and population change. Participants are examining strategies to strengthen regional equity, enhance multi-level governance, and promote sustainable investment frameworks that coordinate national, regional, and local initiatives. The discussions also address issues of demographic decline and aging, which threaten the long-term vitality of some regions, and explore how to create balanced growth between urban and rural areas.
Poland, as host and chair of the conference, is playing a leading role in shaping the debate. The Polish government has emphasized the importance of territorial cohesion and effective local governance as key tools for maintaining competitiveness and social stability. The vice-chairs of the ministerial session—Japan and Norway—reflect the event’s global scope and the shared challenges facing diverse economies.
This Warsaw conference marks one of the most significant gatherings of the OECD’s Regional Development Policy Committee, which convenes at the ministerial level approximately once every five years. Beyond dialogue, the meeting is expected to produce a Chair’s statement summarizing key priorities for the years ahead, along with policy papers and toolkits to help member countries implement “place-based” strategies tailored to local needs.
The broader goal of the conference is to ensure that no region is left behind amid rapid economic and environmental transformation. In an era marked by climate shocks, uneven digital access, and shifting global supply chains, the ability of regional and local governments to build resilience has become a central question for policymakers. By hosting the conference, Poland signals its ambition to take an active role in shaping Europe’s regional policy agenda and to position Warsaw as a hub for international policy dialogue on sustainable and inclusive development.
