Yeltsin’s home town re-branded as land of opportunities

Ekaterinburg has come up with a slogan to attract tourists, investors and anyone looking to relocate.

“Opportunities without limits” – this is the phrase local authorities hope will boost their city of 1.3 million people.

Ekaterinburg is a meeting point of Europe and Asia, and the home-town of Russia’s first president, Boris Yeltsin.

Historically, it is the place where many German and Dutch entrepreneurs made their careers in iron production.

The new slogan is not the only measure the city reserved for attracting more tourists. Back in March 2011, the city in Russia’s Urals signed a contract to become the next Barcelona.

The city’s future style-direction will now be shaped by Josep Acebillo, the chief architect of Catalonia’s capital, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Acebillo is hailed as the man who solved Barcelona’s housing and transportation problems, making it one of the most user-friendly metropolises in the world.

Ekaterinburg’s architectural transformation is already underway. It is currently building a residential district to house over 300,000 people.

Coming up with new slogans and emblems is the latest fashion among Russian cities looking to become more attractive.

The Ulyanovsk Region that has proudly been wearing the title of “the place where Vladimir Lenin was born”, has now been re-branded as “the center of Russia’s aviation industry.”

The city of Kazan bought the title of the third capital (Moscow and St. Petersburg being first and second).

Nizhny Novgorod was named the capital of Volga Federal District.

Veliky Ustug is now referred to as the official residence of Father Frost (Russia’s Santa Claus).

The city of Myshkin was dubbed the capital of mice (from the Russian “mysh,” meaning “mouse”).

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