The development strategy for the Odesa Oblast, with the involvement of international organizations, has been presented

KYIV, July 1, 2015. Today, at a forum on “Focus on Odessa. Odessa Donor & Investor Dialogue” with participation of Head of the Odesa Regional State Administration Mikheil Saakashvil and Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Vladyslav Rashkovan, the participants have been presented with the development strategy for the Odesa Oblast and  steps necessary for the economic breakthrough of the region.   The forum brought together Ambassadors and representatives from the embassies of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, Finland, Switzerland and other countries, the European Commission, the World Bank, EBRD, European Investment Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

Odesa RSA Head Mikheil  Saakashvili outlined his vision on the development of the Odesa region, and unveiled the top-priority steps and measures that need to be taken to  make the region attractive for investors.

Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Vladyslav Rashkovan, who was born in Odesa, pointed out that Odesa region’s prosperity is central and crucial to the successful functioning of the banking sector and Ukraine's foreign exchange system, adding that addressing customs and tax problems facing the region is critical for the balance of payments of our country and the entire economy as a whole. 

Sasha Borovyk, Advisor to the Odesa RSA Head, announced concrete measures to be taken by the team led by Mikheil Saakashvili to build infrastructure, develop tourism, agriculture, and address social challenges facing the region.   Such priorities include the following:

• the development of sea- and riverports;
• the establshment of a new customs center and a center for rendering administrative services;
• the development of communities, with a special emphasis on the Ukrainian Bessarabia;
• attraction of investments in agriculture (the introduction of soil certification,  improvement of soil quality and restoration of amelioration and irrigation systems);
• the improvement of healthcare services' quality, etc.

Yulia Marushevska, a member of the team led by Mikheil Saakashvili, unveiled initiatives to combat corruption in the Odesa region.

“The U.S. government fully supports Mikheil  Saakashvili and his team, and we will do our utmost to ensure their success,” –  said U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Jeffrey Payet, who also participated in the meeting “Focus on Odessa. Odessa Donor & Investor Dialogue”.

Commenting on the outcome of the forum, Mikheil Saakashvili said: “Today we have held a meeting with foreign investors.  We need money to build roads, and we will ensure that this money will not be stolen. We also need money to pay public sector wages because civil servants themselves should neither steal nor allow others do it”.

During the Forum, it was announced that there will be established working groups that will be involved in the development of specific projects in the following areas: tourism, agriculture, IT, customs issues, infrastructure, and development of communities, energy sector and improvement of doing business conditions. Experts from the international company EY will act as moderators of these working groups.