Hoyerswerda plays a special role in the structural transformation of the Lusatia region. Projects by the city and municipally owned companies with a total investment volume of around 160 million euros are currently being implemented. Together with projects funded by the Free State of Saxony and the district of Bautzen, around 260 million euros are being invested in the city. These developments are increasingly attracting attention beyond the region itself.
At the initiative of the Saxon State Parliament, a delegation from the Grand Council of the Canton of Bern visited Hoyerswerda on May 5, 2026. Mayor Torsten Ruban-Zeh welcomed several members of parliament, including Grand Council President Edith Siegenthaler. The delegation was accompanied by President of the Saxon State Parliament Alexander Dierks as well as other representatives of the Saxon State Parliament and the Saxon State Ministry for Infrastructure and Regional Development (SMIL), including State Secretary Sören Trillenberg and Head of Department Jörg Huntemann. The aim of the visit was to demonstrate rural structural development using Hoyerswerda as an example.
Together, the guests visited the Lausitz Tower, the Center for Building and Housing of LAUTECH GmbH, the western shore of Lake Scheibe, the Smart Mobility Lab in Schwarzkollm and the Krabat Mill, among other locations. The focus was on urban development, structural transformation in rural areas and the connection between business, science, infrastructure and quality of life.
The delegation expressed its appreciation for both the historical development and the current transformation of Hoyerswerda and thanked everyone involved for an informative day filled with professional exchange and discussions.
The Grand Council of the Canton of Bern has been a partner parliament of the Saxon State Parliament for more than 25 years. The visit to Hoyerswerda was part of a multi-day stay in Saxony and served as a professional exchange on current developments in structural transformation.
