 The city was, right after capital Warsaw, the second most important cultural and academic centre of Poland (in academical year 1937/38 there were 9,100 students, attending 5 higher education facilities including widely renowned university and institute of technology).Together with Poznań, Lwów was Poland's trade fairs centre, with internationally renowned "Targi Wschodnie" (The Eastern Trade Fair) held annually since 1921, which had fostered city's economical growth.At the same time, the Polish government reduced the rights of the local Ukrainians, closing down many of the Ukrainian schools.