International Workshop in Zaporizhzhya: “Regional Development Strategic Planning”- February 24, 2006
On February 24, 2006, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, the Canada-Ukraine Project for Regional Governance and Development (RGD Project), which is managed by the Canadian Urban Institute and funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, held an International Workshop on “Regional Development Strategic Planning” to engage stakeholders in discussion about the current status of regional governance and development in Zaporizhzhia, to understand the concerns and needs of local stakeholders and where the RGD Project can assist, and to demonstrate the benefits that participatory strategic planning processes brought to Central and Eastern European regions. Representatives of academia, local government, business and civil society organizations, as well as leading Canadian, European, and Ukrainian experts on regional governance, development and planning issues participated in the workshop.
Mr. Sin, Deputy Head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast State Administration, and Mr. Berezhnyj, Deputy Head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Council, spoke about the previous approaches to elaborate regional development strategic plans. Mr. Sin remarked that Zaporizhzhia Oblast attaches great importance to cooperation with the RGD project in developing its strategic plan. Mr. Berezhnyj noted that increasing the standard of living is a priority of regional government.
Dr. Frank, Lead International Expert of the Project, stressed that the project’s role in regional strategic planning is not going to be one of consultation, but of process integration. Dr. Frank noted that a regional strategic plan is a marketing tool for investors.
The contribution of international experts allowed Zaporizhzhia officials and stakeholders to understand the Canadian and European contexts of regional governance and development and how their methods apply to Ukraine in general and to Zaporizhzhia specifically. The discussions throughout the workshop on the needs of Zaporizhzhia in terms of regional governance, development and planning will allow the RGD Project to move forward with the Oblast Development Strategic Plan.
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