British American Tobacco Ukraine has committed itself to contribute UAH 0.25 million ($49,500) for implementation of Municipal Marketing Program in Pryluky, Chernihiv Oblast.
On Feb. 16, 2006, B.A.T. Ukraine Deputy Director General Oleh Yason and Pryluky Mayor Mykola Babiy signed a Memorandum of further collaboration between the company and the city community. The tobacco giant will provide expert assistance in promoting the city’s investment opportunities and help to disseminate positive public/private partnership experiences and results among business circles in the region and Ukraine.
The Pryluky Municipal Marketing Program is a priority objective under the Economic Development Strategic Plan, which was developed by the Strategic Planning Committee under the auspices of the USAID LED project and approved by the City Rada in late September 2005.
Representatives from B.A.T. Ukraine were active participants in the strategic planning effort, and the further assistance to the city in plan implementation is a logical follow-up on the part of the company.
Speaking to reporters, Yason and Babiy said they are convinced that implementation of the Municipal Marketing Program will create certain advantages for Pryluky community members.
Deputy Mayor Nadia Yeremenko, who presented the Program, pointed out that its tasks include developing a database of real estate that investors could buy or rent; promoting Pryluky’s investment opportunities on both foreign and domestic markets; and streamlining the investment process. The city hall undertakes responsibility for effective program implementation and will guarantee that money raised as a result of the implementation will be spent as intended – to solve the city’s most urgent problems.
With over $43 million of foreign direct investments as of Jan. 1, 2005, Pryluky is the FDI leader in the Chernihiv Oblast, leaving behind even the oblast center, which has population five times that in Pryluky. The year 2005 marked two more FDI-based factories commissioned: Ukratex (garments) and Alitoni (footwear). It is expected that successful implementation of the Municipal Marketing Program will attract new investors and create new jobs.
In 1993, British American Tobacco became the first foreign investor into Ukrainian tobacco industry. The company also features responsibility for support to the local economic, social and cultural development in territories where it locates its production facilities.
