LED Project Delivers Equipment to Ivano-Frankivsk

Yesterday the USAID LED project transferred nearly UAH 30,000 ($6,000) worth of equipment to the Ivano-Frankivsk City Rada (Council) Executive Committee. It is expected that the up-to-date equipment will increase the operation efficiency of the Economic Analysis and Strategic Planning Office within the Economic and Integration Development Department and thus contribute to further implementation of the Ivano-Frankivsk Economic Development Strategic Plan, in particular creation of a marketing system for investment opportunities in the city. The equipment includes four desktop computers complete with TFT monitors, UPS units and licensed software, three laser printers, a scanner, a fax machine, a glass-door file storage cabinet, and three USB flash drives. It was delivered as part of up to UAH 75,000 ($15,000) assistance award from the LED project's Innovation Fund granted under an agreement signed between the LED project and the Ivano-Frankivsk City Rada in December 2007 following an application from the City Hall. Viktor Anushkevichus, Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor: "To develop successfully, any organization needs a strategic plan, the more so a municipality" Speaking at the equipment transfer ceremony, held in the City Hall in presence of local media people, Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor Viktor Anushkevichus thanked USAID for "nearly 16 years of its productive work in Ukraine" and for its support of the city in a number of projects. He also thanked the LED project for "not only consulting but also financial support." The Mayor said that, to develop successfully, any organization needs a strategic plan, the more so a municipality, which embraces various industries. He emphasized that Ivano-Frankivsk's strategy has been reviewed and adjusted to "changes in life" that have happened since the plan was adopted in December 2005. Oksana Fedorovych, independent consultant with the LED project and member of the Strategic Plan Implementation Management Committee, reported that "now the plan is fulfilled at some 75 percent," the main result being a favorable business environment created in Ivano-Frankivsk.   Oksana Fedorovych, independent consultant: "The main result of the Strategic Plan implementation is the favorable business environment in Ivano-Frankivsk"   Her statement is based on statistics. According to the City Rada Executive Committee, foreign direct investments in the city have been sky-rocketing: $3.94 million in 2005, $11.76 million in 2006, and $51.1 million in 2007. Mr. Anushkevichus mentioned successes in attraction of Ukrainian investors as well. He said both investment components – foreign and internal – resulted in more than 40 percent increase in the city's industrial output in 2007 vs. 2006. Accordingly, payrolls and local budget revenue are also up. This is largely due to the Strategic Plan, he added. Ivano-Frankivsk was among the first group of Ukrainian cities where the LED project helped design economic development strategies. In Ivano-Frankivsk, the strategy focuses on development of businesses, human resources, and communal infrastructure.

Part of the equipment was presented to journalists

Media people are getting ready for the equipment transfer ceremony

The signing of equipment transfer deed. Sitting on the left of the Mayor is Oleh Pluhatarenko, Programs Implementation Manager with the LED project

A remembrance photo: Oleh Pluhatarenko, Oksana Fedorovych and Viktor Anushkevichus