site.btaForum with Bulgarian Participation on Odesa Region’s Recovery Held in Odesa

A forum with Bulgarian participation on the recovery of Ukraine’s Odesa region took place in the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa. The event served as a platform for representatives of the state, municipalities, international organisations, businesses and the expert community to discuss not only the recovery of damage caused so far, but also the region’s prospects after the war.

The forum was organised by the Odesa Regional Military Administration, the Odesa City Military Administration and the Regional Development Agency of Odesa Region, with the support of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

Participants included Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity Denys Uliutin; Olena Shuliak, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on State Power, Local Self-Government, Regional Development and Urban Planning; Odesa Regional Military Administration Head Oleh Kiper; Nadia Zadorozhna, Deputy Head of the Odesa City Military Administration; Matthias Schmale, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine; among others.

Bulgaria was represented by its diplomats in Ukraine – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Zlatin Krastev and Consul General in Odesa Svetoslav Ivanov – as well as representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Odesa.

Five panels were held during the two-day forum, focusing on regional resilience and recovery, partnership and integration, Odesa region’s agri-food systems, social cohesion and support, and critical infrastructure and logistics.

Ivanov said the forum was held annually and that, despite the increasingly difficult situation caused by more frequent attacks on port and critical infrastructure in the city and region, its aim was to attract the attention of international partners and organisations and raise funds to support the region’s budget, social policy and energy sector.

He said Ukraine was currently facing serious budgetary difficulties due to the suspension of grain exports. According to Ivanov, all ports in Odesa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk had currently suspended operations, resulting in the loss of significant revenues.

He added that another objective of the forum was to raise awareness so that diplomatic missions in Odesa could inform their respective countries about the needs and requirements of Ukraine and the Odesa region.

The forum also discussed a shared vision for the strategic recovery and long-term development of Odesa region, including strategic goals and priority areas, projects, and the establishment of effective dialogue between local and central authorities and international partners. Participants also discussed mobilising resources for the implementation of key initiatives.