On October 31, the First International Conference “Mykolaiv – City on the Wave,” a significant event for the development of the blue economy in Ukraine, was held in Kyiv. The event gathered experts in urban planning, innovation, and sustainable development to discuss the strategies for the reconstruction and transformation of Mykolaiv. This conference served as an important platform to strengthen partnerships with international organizations, businesses, and civic initiatives.
Attendees included Artem Vashchylenko, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, members of the Supervisory Board of the Public Union “Ukrainian Maritime Cluster,” such as Viktor Lysytskiy and Sergiy Gurskyi, as well as Olena Zhukova, Executive Director of the Public Union “Ukrainian Maritime Cluster.” Cluster members Yurii Zhukov, Founder and Partner of “C-Job Nikolayev” LLC, and Oleksandr Kushnyriov, Director of “Company Gulfstream” were also present.
Supported by international partners, the Mykolaiv City Council has developed a new vision for the city’s future, which was presented during the event. This includes:
- The Mykolaiv City Development Strategy until 2027
- Mykolaiv City Master Plan
- Pilot projects such as AQUAPORT Mykolaiv, the Revitalization of the Mykolaiv Shipbuilding Plant, and the Innovation District
“The main goal of the conference was to present Mykolaiv as the city most ready for restoration. The city has a strategy, a master plan, and a portfolio of projects that are practically ready for further development. Among the guests were many representatives of international organizations and diplomatic missions — the target audience for this message,” summarized Artem Vashchylenko, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Association of Business Support Centers (UABSC) and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Public Union “Ukrainian Maritime Cluster”.
Olena Zhukova took part in the panel discussion “Economic Recovery of the City through Innovation and Creative Solutions,” where she stated:
“I would like to emphasize that innovation is an undeniably important factor in the post-war recovery of Ukraine’s economy. This is especially relevant for high-tech industrial sectors, such as shipbuilding, as well as for the further development of service companies within this segment,” said Olena Zhukova, Executive Director of the Public Union “Ukrainian Maritime Cluster”.
Addressing why Mykolaiv should pursue an innovative development path, Olena Zhukova explained that, first, this approach ensures collaboration with global leaders and intellectual players in innovation development. Second, it allows for the creation of high-value products and services, a primary goal for any investor.
Olena Zhukova as the director of the “Marine Design Engineering Mykolayiv” LLC (MDEM), a subsidiary of Damen Shipyards Group, that MDEM has experience in implementing innovative projects. The services provided by MDEM are competitive and in demand, which contributed to the opening of a new office in Galati, Romania, in 2024.
Zhukova also emphasized that the adoption of modern technologies and approaches, including the Twin transition model, enables Ukrainian companies to remain competitive. International clients today expect collaborations with forward-thinking companies that bring modern perspectives and skills, rather than traditional, pre-war solutions.
“I believe that on the path to effective and sustainable development of Ukraine’s shipbuilding industry, it is essential to develop and implement national programs to support the innovative growth of the blue economy in Ukraine”? – Olena Zhukova concluded.
At Zhukova’s invitation, the event was attended by Karel Burger Dirven, the First Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Netherlands.
In summary, the conference provided an opportunity to explore new investment possibilities aimed at supporting Mykolaiv’s reconstruction efforts and its transformation into a model for blue economy development.
To watch the conference recording, please follow the link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWm1rgOINZUdgZFVWv4MG24qZmlTMbsWh&si=ZcxgYI20OfYfMMFr
The event “Mykolaiv – City on the Wave” was supported by the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration. The event was held within the framework of the Mayors for Economic Growth initiative, funded by the European Union, and supported by the Innovation Fund 2.0 project, funded by the Kingdom of Denmark. Both projects are implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).