The shield of the South
Reintegration of the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula is not possible without the socio-economic development of Southern Ukraine and attracting significant investment in the development of local industry, agriculture, business, infrastructure and local communities. That is why the governors of the Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions decided to jointly solve the region’s problems.
Serhii Kozyr, Vitalii Kim and Serhii Hrynevetskyi joined forces to develop the tourism industry of the Prychornomorja district, build a common infrastructure for the region through irrigation, establish quality transportation, and build housing for Ukrainians who were forced to leave the temporarily occupied Crimea.
«Now is the time when it has become clear to everyone that we don’t need to compete with each other. But on the contrary — we need to develop together and change for the better. I’m sure that our joint work will bring results in the near future and today will be the day when Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions start a new page in the development of the South of Ukraine».
Vitalii Kim, the governor of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration
The governors of the regional state administrations confirmed the unprecedented case of close partnership by signing a memorandum. In particular, the document envisages not only the exchange of experience but also the introduction of new approaches to agricultural development, creation of a powerful water management and reclamation complex in the south of Ukraine, modernization of existing and construction of new irrigation systems, development of modern tourist infrastructure and rational use of tourist resources.
«Joint implementation of these measures will increase agricultural production by solving the problems of artificial irrigation of agricultural land. I hope for effective cooperation and implementation of several joint projects that will become the foundation for the development of irrigation in the south of Ukraine».
Serhii Kozyr, the governor of Kherson Regional State Administration
The possibility of attracting investors for the installation of towers and the distribution of Ukrainian television in the communities of the Kherson region bordering the temporarily occupied Crimea is being considered. And the Ukrainian Minister for Reintegration of the TOT announced a tender for TV and radio companies. It will solve the problem of the lack of Ukrainian television signal in the southern region and meet the culture and information need of people living on the temporary border with Crimea.
«…regional policy is the key to strengthening the state. Because we have chosen the European vector of integration, Europe today is a Europe of developed regions. Together we can ask questions to the central authorities to see the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of our people».
Serhii Hrynevetskyi, the governor of the Odesa Regional State Administration
Such unity in solving the problems of the Prychornomorja region will strengthen the position of the South in the issues of socio-economic development and reintegration of the temporary border.