On April 12, 2007, USAID Mission to Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus Director Earl W. Gast and Sumy Mayor Hennadiy Minayev signed a Letter of Intent regarding collaboration between the USAID Local Economic Development (LED) project and the Sumy City Rada.
USAID Mission Director Earl W. Gast (left) and Sumy Mayor Hennadiy Minayev (right) are shaking hands after signing the Letter of Intent regarding collaboration between the USAID LED project and the Sumy City Rada
The document testifies to the parties’ commitment to collaborate on the development and implementation of an economic development strategy for Sumy, which has become the 32nd Ukrainian city covered by the LED project.
“What we hope to do is to work with you in developing a plan that will attract investors, because Sumy will be competing with other oblasts and other cities for investments,” said Mr. Gast at a news conference before the signing. He stressed that one of things accompanying investments is that “they bring in capital, they bring in new ideas, and they create jobs.”
Mr. Minayev mentioned his conversation with the Mission Director, which he called “wonderful” and “straight.” He said he frankly confessed at the meeting that last year Sumy formed a task force to plan its economic development. The task force worked for half a year but failed to come up with a strategy, so the “USAID project’s assistance in strategic planning for the city comes in very handy,” he pointed out.
The introductory meeting of the Expert Committee for Strategic Plan Development followed the signing ceremony. The Committee, which consists of local government officers, businesspersons, and other community leaders, was formed in Sumy by order of the Mayor under the LED project.
Representatives from the local governments of the Sumy Oblast cities of Trostyanets and Okhtyrka also attended the meeting. They will be present at all Expert Committee meetings in Sumy to learn the strategic planning process and replicate it in their cities under guidance of Ukrainian consultants trained and hired by the LED project.