A strategic session was held in Odesa focused on the development of southern regions of Ukraine.

The event was chaired by Deputy Minister for Community and Territorial Development Oleksii Riabikin.

Among the participants was Deputy Mayor of Odesa Hanna Pozdnyakova.

«Today's discussion is aimed at planning a future that will meet the needs of people and the potential of the territories. It is also important to integrate regional plans into the national development strategy to create synergy for the country's recovery,» noted Oleksii Riabikin.

During the session, participants discussed key issues facing the regions and identified priority directions for their resolution.

Particularly, for the Odesa region, emphasis was placed on developing transport and logistics infrastructure, the agricultural sector, ensuring energy resilience, and modernizing the port industry.

Significant attention is also given to modernizing social infrastructure, education, supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs), accessibility, and social cohesion.

«Odesa remains a bastion of resilience and development even in the toughest times. We focus our efforts on infrastructure modernization, community support, and strengthening energy security. Strategic planning is not only about the future but also about our ability to adapt to current challenges and create a solid foundation for recovery and prosperity in our region,» said Hanna Pozdnyakova.

A series of events is being conducted with the support of UNDP Ukraine and financial assistance from the Government of Japan.