Novo oblikovani regionalni razvojni programi so nastali z namenom zmanjševanja regionalnih razlik in krepitve ekonomske in socialne kohezije, in naj bi zagotovili skladnejši regionalni razvoj slovenskega ozemlja. Z enakomernejšim razvojem bo Slovenija postala konkurenčnejša na skupnem evropskem trgu in v globalizacijskih procesih. Splošne regionalne razvojne značilnosti Slovenije kažejo, da obstajajo velike razlike na področju gospodarskega, socialnega in prostorskega razvoja posameznih območij. Med statističnimi regijami je Podravje opredeljeno kot območje s strukturnimi problemi in kot ekonomsko šibko ter socialno nestabilno območje s staro industrijsko strukturo in s pretežno agrarno usmeritvijo. Kako okrepiti splošni razvoj na obmejnem območju z Avstrijo in Hrvaško, preprečiti nadaljnjo socio-ekonomsko zaostajanje in zagotoviti trajnostni razvoj, predstavlja ključno strateško vprašanje Podravja v naslednjem desetletju.The newly designed regional development programs were formed with the intention of reducing regional differences and strengthening economic and social cohesion in order to ensure a more harmonious regional development of Slovenian territory. Due to the more proportionate development, Slovenia will become more competitive in the Common European Market as well as in globalisation processes. General regional developmental characteristics of Slovenia indicate the existence of considerable differences in the field of economic, social and spatial development between individual regions. Among statistical regions, the Podravje area is defined as the area having structural problems and being an economically weak and socially unstable territory with old industrial structure and predominantly agriculturally oriented. Strengthening general development in the border region with Austria and Croatia and preventing further socio-economic setback as well as ensuring sustainable development are the key strategic issues of the Podravje region in the next decade
