Regional Forum "Zaporizhzhia Regional Development Strategy Implementation: Ukrainian and International Best Practices"
Zaporizhzhia Annual Regional Forum disseminates Ukrainian and international best practices on strategic regional development
Exchange of practices, mutual discussion of ideas and achievements – is a step to further development. Summing up and presentation of results – is an incitement to new achievements.
In June 2008 Zaporizhzhia Oblast Council approved Zaporizhzhia Regional Development Strategy till 2015 developed with wide public engagement (more than 2000 people were engaged). Oblast citizens identified principal regional development priorities: environment protection, culture and tourism, and innovative-investment in industrial and agricultural sectors. Operational programs that included a number of specific projects and tasks had been developed. In September 2008 representatives of oblast state authorities, businesses, academia and public, taking into account interests of different rayons and cities of Zaporizhzhia oblast, identified about 30 priority projects to be implemented in 2009. In October 2008 within the framework of Canada-Ukraine Partnership Project for Regional Governance and Development the Project Management Training Program for the regional and local government specialists was initiated.
However life goes on and applies its own corrections. Unfortunately, world financial crisis affected Zaporizhzhia oblast economic processes. In November 2008, some essential changes of the situation with funding from local budgets in comparison with the last year appeared to become obvious. Due to this fact, the principal goals and operational tasks had been changed: first of all, now they should be aimed at reducing crisis effects for the oblast citizens and at development of those economic sectors that can assist in solving oblast financial problems and raising its competitiveness.
On February 18, 2009 within the framework of Canada-Ukraine Partnership Project for Regional Governance and Development the Regional Forum entitled Zaporizhzhia Regional Development Strategy Implementation: Ukrainian and International Best Practices was held in Zaporizhzhia. It covered a number of regional and local strategies implementation issues. Forum participants included representatives of local, regional and national state authorities, public, businesses, academia, international funds and technical assistance projects as well as the representative of Canadian Embassy in Ukraine.
Participants of the event got an opportunity to learn more about priority tasks set up by oblast state administration for 2009-2010 and the projects that have being already implemented in Zaporizhzhia oblast (Sea Cost Territories Development Concept and Concept of the Local Manufacturer Support Strategy), as well as the best practices of strategies implementation in other regions of Ukraine.
On the initiative of Zaporizhzhia Oblast State Administration (OSA) two international experts from Canada and USA were invited to participate in the forum. They delivered presentations on economic diversification processes that took place at their countries: from total liquidation of the metallurgy production sector in Pittsburg (USA) to re-equipping of steel-smelting plant in Hamilton (Canada).
Forum discussions resulted in admitting of the significant Zaporizhzhia OSA capacity strengthening as for improving of the regional policy development and implementation mechanisms.
As O. Sin, Deputy Head of Zaporizhzhia OSA, mentioned during the forum: “Today we have to think about future steps to be taken after this crisis”. That is why the main forum goal was to hear everyone, because positive changes can be achieved only through joining our efforts.
 Economic Development Through Collaborative Innovation
An Overview of the City of Hamilton’s Economic Development Strategy
 Address of Honorable Mike M. Dawida Esq. before the Zaporizhzhia Regional Forum February 18, 2009
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