Austria’s experience opens new opportunities for decentralization in Ukraine – Zubko

The experience of Austria opens new opportunities for regional development and the introduction of decentralization in Ukraine, according to Deputy Prime Minister- Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Hennadiy Zubko.

When commenting on the meeting between President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Federal Chancellor of Austria Sebastian Kurz in Vienna, Zubko said: “The deepening of the Ukrainian-Austrian cooperation opens new opportunities for regional development and the introduction of decentralization in Ukraine. For us, Austria's experience in determining and developing priority sectors of the economy for each federal land and improving the competitive potential of lands is interesting. The introduction of such Austrian approaches in Ukraine will raise the competitiveness index of the regions”.

He also stressed that practical experience of Austria in the issue of forming a policy for the development of mountainous and highland territories, in particular, developing social infrastructure and stimulating industry and entrepreneurship, is useful for Ukraine.

“In addition, we will step up cooperation within the framework of the EU Strategy for the Danube region. The strategy is an example of a coordinated approach to the development of a large macroregion. Ukraine's participation in its implementation opens new opportunities for cooperation with the countries participating in the Strategy, in particular with Austria. This issue was discussed at the meeting with Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria Sebastian Kurz in the scope of President Petro Poroshenko’s visit," Zubko wrote.

As earlier reported, on February 8, President Petro Poroshenko was on an official visit to Vienna at the invitation of Federal President of Alexander Van der Bellen.

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