Oleksii Chernyshov: Regional development strategies have been approved in each region of Ukraine

The first stage of decentralization reform has wound up. As a result, a new administrative-territorial system was formed and the powers of local self-government bodies were expanded. So far, all regions in Ukraine and more than 500 communities have approved their own development strategies, as well as more than 600 are being developed. This was announced by the Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Chernyshov during the Forum "Effective local governance as a guarantee of a democratic and legal state."

"Decentralization is a long and difficult process. But the first stage of reform has already been completed. Efforts need to be made to strengthen the capacity of each community. Therefore, each local government body must develop its own development strategy that will meet the goals and objectives of the State Regional Development Strategy and the Regional Development Strategy for the next seven years. The projects that will be implemented within each community strategy framework should contribute to job creation, business support, the formation of an attractive investment climate, etc.," said Oleksii Chernyshov.

In addition, the Minister for Communities and Territories Development stressed on the results of budget decentralization. According to Oleksii Chernyshov, due to the establishment of direct inter-budgetary relations from the state budget, transfer of financial and property resources from the district level, decentralization in the field of land relations - local budget revenues have quadrupled.

Also, the introduction of the institute of prefects is underway - in almost every community there are already established prefects' districts, which are designed to provide systematic two-way communication.