On 22 April, Vinnytsia hosted an interagency meeting bringing together industrial park management companies and initiators of industrial park development in the Vinnytsia region.
The event brought together representatives of central government, parliament, regional and local authorities, and the business community — all those shaping the country’s new economic foundation. The discussion focused on the current state of industrial park operations, prospects for their further development, and the key challenges hindering investment and the establishment of new manufacturing facilities.
The discussion brought together Vitaliy Kindrativ, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine; Dmytro Kysylevskyi, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Economic Development; Members of Parliament of Ukraine Anatolii Drabovskyi and Maksym Pashkovskyi; Viacheslav Sokolovyi, Chair of the Vinnytsia Regional Council; Serhii Zditovetskyi, First Deputy Head of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration; Serhii Morhunov, Mayor of Vinnytsia; Andrii Ocheretnyi, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia; Maryna Bryl, UCORD Project Director; Yelyzaveta Savchuk, Director of the Vinnytsia Regional Development Agency; as well as representatives of industrial parks across the Vinnytsia region.
Vinnytsia as a Leader in Industrial Park Development
During the meeting, it was repeatedly emphasised that Vinnytsia continues to lead among Ukrainian municipalities in the development of industrial parks. Today, 10 industrial parks have been established in the region, most of them within the Vinnytsia urban municipality. At the same time, new parks are actively being launched in other municipalities, including Zhmerynka and Koziatyn, demonstrating a strategic vision for the region’s economic development.
Industrial parks are seen not only as an economic development tool, but also as an important element of national resilience. They create jobs, enhance the competitiveness of locally produced goods, and provide a foundation for restoring the economic potential of communities.
Particular attention was paid to investment. Amid the full-scale war, Ukrainian businesses continue to be the main investors in the country’s economic development.
Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov emphasised, in particular: “The development of industrial parks is embedded in the city’s development strategy. At the same time, the security situation has a significant impact on the investment climate, making foreign investors cautious. Ukrainian investors, by contrast, are currently the most active, and this is clearly demonstrated by the example of industrial parks.”
Key challenges identified include risks related to the ongoing war, particularly the destruction of production facilities and the lack of comprehensive mechanisms for compensating businesses for losses.
How Switzerland, through the UCORD Project, Supports Industrial Park Infrastructure and Drives Regional Development
One of the key factors behind the success of industrial parks is the availability of basic infrastructure. This is the focus of the UCORD Project’s grant programme, implemented with the support of Switzerland in three pilot regions, including the Vinnytsia region.
The programme focuses on the development of water supply and wastewater management systems, which are critical for launching production facilities. It is aligned with key national strategic documents, including the Strategy for the Development of Industrial Parks for 2023–2030, the National Economic Strategy to 2030, and the State Strategy for Regional Development.
The programme focuses on the development of water supply and wastewater management systems, which are critical for launching production facilities. It is aligned with key national strategic documents, including the Strategy for the Development of Industrial Parks for 2023–2030, the National Economic Strategy to 2030, and the State Strategy for Regional Development.
Marina Bryl, UCORD Project Manager, emphasised the importance of institutional cooperation: “Developing the infrastructure of industrial parks is one of the priorities of the UCORD Project, as infrastructure determines their readiness to attract investment. At the same time, the innovative aspect of our approach lies in the key role played by regional development agencies in implementing the grant programme.”
According to her, dozens of stakeholders are involved in the implementation of these projects, including local authorities, municipal enterprises, contractors and subcontractors. Regional development agencies (RDAs) play a key role in coordinating this complex process, serving as a hub for consolidating information and facilitating interaction among all stakeholders.
The Role of Regional Development Agencies: From Coordination to Leadership
A key element in the programme’s implementation has been the active involvement of regional development agencies (RDAs), which serve as coordinators and intermediaries among all stakeholders involved in the process.
During the project selection stage, RDAs served as a “bridge” between donors, project initiators and public authorities, significantly accelerating the launch of the initiatives. Throughout implementation, they coordinate the process, manage documentation, track co-financing, prepare reports, and support communications.
At the same time, RDAs are developing their own procedures, templates and practical experience in implementing infrastructure projects, thereby strengthening their institutional capacity. This experience will be documented in the form of case studies for further dissemination.
Once the projects are completed, the partnerships established and expertise gained will remain in the region, laying the groundwork for new initiatives.
Another important area of RDA activity is promoting industrial parks and attracting potential residents. Practice shows that their involvement contributes to a broader vision of regional development, extending beyond individual projects.
Viacheslav Sokolovyi, Head of the Vinnytsia Regional Council, concluded: “One of the priorities of the Vinnytsia Regional Council and Vinnytsia City Council is resilience. We need to restore the economic potential of our communities and work towards development. This means jobs and people’s well-being. It means international partnerships and the competitiveness of our products on the global market. The economic and technical strength of the state is its ability to withstand challenges.”
The Vinnytsia region demonstrates that it is precisely the combination of partnerships among the government, local communities, businesses, regional development agencies and international donors, together with a strategic approach and alignment with development priorities at all levels, that creates the foundation for the systematic development of industrial parks.
