Leaders of the Ukrainian Maritime Cluster took part in the panel discussion ‘Developing Mykolaiv through the Principles of the Blue Economy,’ held at the Business and Economic Development Support Center studio.
In his opening remarks, Artem Vashchylenko, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the “Ukrainian Maritime Cluster,” Head of the Ukrainian Association of Business Support Centers, and Coordinator of Team Europe Mykolaiv, stated:
“Mykolaiv, on its path to recovery, has chosen a strategy to position itself as a city of the blue economy, aspiring to become the ‘Blue Economy Center of Ukraine.’ Therefore, today’s discussion is focused on Mykolaiv’s development based on blue economy principles, what this entails, the opportunities ahead, and how we, as a city actively integrating into the European Union, are working within these principles.”
During the discussion, experts explored the opportunities and prospects for businesses in Mykolaiv as it grows into a blue economy hub and a maritime region of Europe.
To ensure a unified understanding, Mykola Petrushenko, Head of the Department at the Institute of Market and Economic & Environmental Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, clarified key principles and concepts of the blue economy, explaining:
“The blue economy is a modern global trend, especially in Europe, integrating marine and green economy principles. It aligns with the sustainable development concept and green economy, as well as the maritime economy. In Europe, it also closely relates to the European Green Deal. Essentially, the blue economy emphasizes sustainable ocean resource usage, aiming to preserve ocean health while creating jobs, boosting GDP, and driving innovation.”
He further explained, “The blue economy principles are best outlined in EU legislative and other initiatives, such as the 2021 Communiqué that introduced ‘blue growth’ as an evolved concept. Blue growth reflects a shift from a traditional marine economy to a sustainable blue economy, considering not only economic but also social and environmental perspectives.”
Experts agreed on the importance of viewing the blue economy from a sectoral perspective, distinguishing between traditional and emerging sectors requiring priority attention, such as offshore wind energy, aquaculture, maritime tourism, and shipping. For Mykolaiv, a blue economy center, the focus on innovation-driven sectors is vital.
Yurii Zhukov, Ph.D., founder and partner of C-Job Nikolayev LLC and AMICO Digital LLC, noted, “When a world-class European investor entered Mykolaiv in 2005, it enabled innovative progress. This integration adapted our ship design and construction methods to a competitive standard.”
He cited examples of companies using innovative approaches, like AMICO Digital, which collaborates with EU enterprises on new developments, and C-Job Nikolayev, which partners with European firms to implement green digital technology in shipbuilding. C-Job Nikolayev is a design firm based in Mykolaiv, partnering with three Dutch companies with branches in Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, and the USA. This integration creates a win-win outcome.
Olena Zhukova, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Maritime Cluster and Managing Director of Marine Design Engineering Mykolayiv LLC, emphasized that
“As a Cluster, our goal is to unite with partners who can teach us the best practices for industry growth and sectoral benchmarking.”
She announced the Ukrainian Maritime Cluster’s successful participation in the 4BIZ European grant project, aimed at establishing an innovative path for enterprise development and regional cooperation in areas like aquaculture, coastal tourism, and maritime transport. Another key focus of the Cluster is collaboration with European professional associations, such as SEA Europe.
Zhukova highlighted,
“Commitment to innovation is essential for ensuring the global competitiveness of domestic producers. These ambitious goals are set for our manufacturers, while global markets are advancing with decarbonization and digital transformation. Therefore, to compete, we must adopt these technologies.”
She referenced Marine Design Engineering Mykolaiv’s work on their third vessel servicing offshore wind farms equipped with hydrogen engines as an example of implementing decarbonization and digitalization in shipbuilding.
“The teams working on these projects are knowledge holders and must contribute to developing a roadmap for building these skills within the blue economy sector,” she noted.
In conclusion, the experts agreed that the European Union currently leads in blue growth and the blue economy. For Ukraine, joining this direction is logical, as a core aspect of the blue economy philosophy is its regenerative nature, making it an essential and unavoidable pathway for Ukraine’s post-war recovery and European integration efforts.
For more information, we invite you to watch the recording of the discussion.
The event was organized with the support of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine and implemented by Team Europe Mykolaiv.