The G7 countries provide consistent assistance in implementation of the reforms in Ukraine, in particular in pursuing the decentralization reform. This is an unprecedented example, when all international partners united around one decentralization reform, and focused on certain directions – healthcare, education, administrative services, territory planning, etc. And the best European and world practices  are applied in each sector. Today, Ukraine is a successful example in terms of involving the best principles of democratic governance. I am grateful to G7 ambassadors for our joint work, said Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine, while visiting the Kiptivska consolidated community in Chernihiv region  with the ambassadors of the G7 countries.

During the trip, the G7 ambassadors commended the success of the decentralization reform and assured the Ukrainian side of further support for its implementation. Roman Waschuk,  Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine stressed that decentralization in Ukraine is where every region, every village, each community can take care of their own destiny and involve an international partner in cooperation.

Within the framework of the visit, the project “Organisation of Land Management and Implementation of the Local Economic Development Strategy under Decentralization”, supported by the USAID  Agricultural and Rural Development Support Project was presented. The purpose of this pilot project is to create land e-management on the territory of the consolidated communities for their sustainable economic development. This project is being implemented in Ukraine for the first time and is innovative in terms of procedures and technologies.

According to the Vice Prime Minister, such a project is a powerful communication tool for communities business representatives, and investors.

"When a consolidated community  has opportunities and instruments, it develops very fast. Local budgets grow both at the expense of tax revenues and investment attraction. On the other hand, communities would have more opportunities and funds in case of transfer of land resources to them. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to adopt the law on the transfer of land management powers to consolidated communities elaborated by the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine, as well as the law on territory planning of the consolidated communities. These laws are part of the package of far-reaching decentralization laws submitted to the Parliament", the Vice Prime Minister stressed.

The attendees were Roman Waschuk, Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie L. Yovanovitch U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Judith Gough, British Ambassador to Ukraine, Ernst Reichel, German Ambassador to Ukraine, Isabelle Dumont, French Ambassador to Ukraine, Davide La Cecilia Italian Ambassador to Ukraine, Shigeki Sumi,  Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine, Berend de Groot, Head of the Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine and other diplomatic representatives.