Mariupol should become a tourist center in the East of Ukraine. It is planned to renovate three embankments for this reason. Mayor Vadym Boichenko told about this at “UkraineInvest Talks Dnipro” International Investment Forum.
‘Mariupol is a city where the Ukrainian sun rises. We managed to become a national leader in transparency and openness from 57th place. This allowed attracting investments from international partners –EBRD, IFC, EIB. The President of Ukraine held a large-scale investment forum in our city. This made it possible to solve the logistical problem – to build Mariupol-Zaporizhzhia highway. We have systematically updated the transport system, created 2000 new work places, provided services of the European level,’ the Mayor of Mariupol said.
Vadym Boichenko added that the result of the work was appreciated by the residents of Mariupol. Only 36% of residents said that they love their city in 2015, today it is more than 80%. The construction of a water purification plant and the reconstruction of the beach area is among the projects. French experts are assisting in both initiatives.
Olena Voloshina, the head of IFC activities in Ukraine, told why Mariupol was chosen as the first city with which the organization decided to cooperate.
‘When Vadym Boichenko presented his projects, we realized that Mariupol would be the first city in which we would launch our assistance program in the development of infrastructure projects. Today it operates in three more cities,’ she said.
The Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmygal also spoke at the forum. He noted that today the work is underway to improve the investment climate in Ukraine. Fiscal bodies, customs, tax authorities are being reformed, and an economic security bureau has been established. The Prime Minister noted the strengthening of public-private partnerships, the implementation of “big privatization”, the creation of industrial parks and the opening of the land market are among the “growth points”.
‘It is important that the regions have begun to fight for investors. Community leaders who understand the responsibility for the future must pay attention to the growth points and new opportunities. The transfer of authority and resources to the localities will improve relations between communities, business and investors,’ Denys Shmygal said.
“UkraineInvest Talks Dnipro” Forum is aimed at popularizing the investment environment in the regions of Ukraine. The event brought together representatives of government authorities, municipalities, representatives of the business community, international financial organizations and the expert community. Investment policy and regional development, the development of investment proposals, the experience of investors working in the Eastern region of Ukraine are among the key issues.
The organizers of the event are the UkraineInvest Investment Promotion and Support Office together with Dnipro City Council and Dnipro Development Agency in partnership with the USAID Competitive Economy of Ukraine Program.
