During a working trip to Zaporizhzhia, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy got himself acquainted with the plan of measures for the implementation of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Development Strategy until 2027.
"I often talk about how urgently our Ukraine needs unity. After all, our strength is in this unity. And this is not about slogans. Not just about history, language or religion. True unity is when every citizen of Ukraine, from any region, realizes a simple axiom: we need each other. Because without each other we simply will not be able to exist as a successful country," the President said during his speech at the presentation of the action plan for the implementation of the strategy.
According to the President, each Ukrainian region is an integral part of the puzzle, without which a full picture of a strong and prosperous Ukraine is impossible.
"Each region must understand its uniqueness and its competitive advantages. It must know how exactly it can realize these advantages in cooperation with the central authorities, be successful in a large Ukrainian family. And every inhabitant of the region should understand - "I am the only creator of success and it depends on me what my home, my yard, my street, my city or village, my region and, of course, my favorite country will look like". That is why Ukraine is you," Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
The President noted that today a number of presentations of development strategies for each region of Ukraine begin in the Zaporizhzhia region. They have been created over the year by experts, public figures, managers and local communities.
"We have everything to implement these important strategies in real life: we have a team of honest and professional people in each region. Funds and powers given to communities during decentralization. Tools for controlling power and spending budget funds. We have proof that we are capable of building," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
As an example, the President mentioned the National Program "Great Construction", which continues to be implemented despite the epidemic situation and the global economic crisis.
"We have the most important thing - your faith and support," the President noted.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that Zaporizhzhia was a unique, beautiful region with a steel character.
"We are talking about the unbreakable Cossack spirit and the metallurgical potential of this region. This is the energy heart of our country. This is an incredible nature - the Dnieper cliffs and the Sea of Azov. And the most important thing is that it is the land of very smart, brave and hard-working people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov, who presented the Strategy for Regional Development until 2027, stressed: Zaporizhzhia is an industrial, energy, historical and cultural center of Ukraine and a region with highly qualified personnel.
At the same time, the Deputy Prime Minister called the quality of life, transport infrastructure and environmental safety the main problems to be solved.
According to him, the vision of the region's development envisages focusing on such priority areas as the production of engines and spare parts for helicopters, the manufacture of generators and transformers, wires and cables, endoprostheses. It also envisages the development of logistics hubs, river and sea ports, airports, IT industry and the creation of data centers, resort and recreational areas of the Azov coast, historical and tourist infrastructure and alternative energy in the steppes of Pryazovya.
Separately, Mykhailo Fedorov stressed the need to develop small and medium-sized businesses in the region. To this end, several business support centers will be built in the region during the year, where business representatives from Zaporizhzhia and the region will be provided with free assistance and advice.
"We have already launched such a pilot project in Kharkiv. And very soon such project will be implemented in Zaporizhzhia," he said.
Mykhailo Fedorov noted that there were four most important promising projects in the region: the completion of the bridge across the Dnieper, the development of the historical and cultural complex of Khortytsia, water supply in Kyrylivka, as well as the restoration of irrigation and drainage. In addition, the next important projects should be the development of recreation in the region, in particular in Kyrylivka and Berdyansk.
"Funding for these projects has already been found. For example, 12 billion is needed to complete the bridge project, we understand the sources and how it will be financed. Khortytsia needs 1.6 billion to develop… Almost one billion is needed to complete the water supply in Kyrylivka, and we also understand where we will get the money from. Regarding irrigation and drainage in the region, this project will really increase the region's domestic GDP," he said.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the projects will be financed from local and regional budgets, from the State Fund for Regional Development, there will also be private investments, credit and donor funds, and public-private partnership projects will be created.
Mykhailo Fedorov also noted that 8 schools, 5 kindergartens, 9 ER departments and 17 outpatient clinics, 4 stadiums and 2 swimming pools are being built and reconstructed in the region. A highway across the Dnieper River is also being built, and a new airport has been built in Zaporizhzhia.
"When the reboot of power happens, and it will happen very soon, and our team will be joined by another great team, we will accelerate this process," he said.
After the presentation, the President of Ukraine stressed the need to demonstrate to the public the real steps in the implementation of the Development Strategy.
"I think everything has been said, but instead of words, steps are needed. It is necessary to create such conditions that make it desirable to live here, so that our people don’t leave. Every corner of our country is special,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy summed up.
