PPP Agency, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and government institutions Ukraine Invest and Export Promotion Office have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation

Today, on the 25th of November, 2021, the PPP Agency, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine and government institutions “Ukraine Investment Promotion Office” (UkraineInvest), and “Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office” have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation regarding the implementation of joint initiatives in the field of regional development. 

The purpose of signing the Memorandum is to consolidate efforts of the parties aimed at:

— the development of a modern system of institutional support for socio-economic development in regions, on the basis of regional development agencies, created to fulfill the Law of Ukraine “On the Principles of the State Regional Policy”;

— creating conditions conducive to the expansion of investment and business activities;

— establishing means of direct contact as well as developing cooperation between regional development agencies and various institutions and organizations, concerned with attracting investments, promoting export, supporting business development and implementing PPPs.

Regional development agencies in Ukraine are responsible for propelling the development of territorial communities. This includes the assistance in improving the investment attractiveness of a region, attracting investment and credit resources, international technical assistance for regional development, as well as creating conditions for institutional and infrastructural development of a region. 

The role and responsibilities of regional development agencies in the field of PPP may include the following:

I. assisting PPP project initiators from the public sector (local executive bodies, local governments, utility companies, institutions, organizations) in the preparation of PPP project proposals;

II. providing guidance as well as information and consulting assistance on the issues of regional development, including the preparation of regional development programs and projects to be implemented via the PPP mechanism.

The PPP Agency, as a government institution, that provides comprehensive organizational and advisory support to the public sector regarding the preparation and implementation of well-structured PPP projects, which contribute to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals, welcomes the cooperation with the Regional Development Agencies.

We consider the following activities of the agencies to be contributive to the implementation of PPP processes: 

• participation in performing the demand analysis and in finding investors (private partners) for the implementation of PPP projects at the regional and local levels, as well as providing such investors with information about potential PPP projects in Ukraine and the conditions of their implementation;
• participation in identification, initiation, preparation and implementation of public-private partnership projects at the regional level, including the preparation of the necessary documentation for PPP projects by participating in working/functional groups created by the initiator to prepare a project concept note, feasibility study, tender documentation, etc.;
• organizational support of the consulting work of the PPP Agency in regions.

Today, with the purpose of the practical application of the Memorandum, the parties agreed to hold joint events in the regions, aimed at promoting local economic development, supporting entrepreneurship, and attracting investment on the basis of regional development agencies.

We are confident that such measures will advance the increase of the institutional capacity of public authorities and local governments in the field of PPP in Ukraine as well as the level of competence of specialists, responsible for the preparation and implementation of PPP projects/concessions, taking into account the world’s best practices.

Featured image: https://www.minregion.gov.ua/press/news/u-minregioni-pidpysaly-memorandum-shhodo-stymulyuvannya-pidpryyemnycztva-v-regionah/