On April 24, Bila Tserkva Industrial Park hosted the international forum “Industrial Evolution: Production turns on the economy” was held in Bila Tserkva Industrial Park. The event brought together more than 1000 participants – representatives of Ukrainian manufacturing companies, the government, international partners and investors – to discuss how to restore Ukraine’s industry, attract investment and launch a new industrial economy.
In four panel discussions, leading experts discussed key issues of industrial development in Ukraine: prospects for industrial growth, the role of industrial parks, investment mechanisms, innovation, and effective interaction between the state and business.
The first panel discussion “The Road to a Strong Economy” was attended by Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology Development and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Viktor Mykyta, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office, Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of the State Tax Service, and Kostiantyn Yefymenko, President of Biopharma Plasma.
“If we want to see Ukraine among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of GDP, we must develop technologies and innovations: microelectronics, chips, drones and other breakthrough areas. That is why we have created the WINWIN Strategy for Digital Development of Innovations in Ukraine until 2030, which unites 14 areas – from fintech to AI. We are already working on various tools to create conditions for the development of innovations in Ukraine: incentives, regulatory fast tracks, access to financing, and mechanisms for opening new markets. After all, digitalization, technology, and innovation should become the foundation of our economic development,” said Mykhailo Fedorov.
In his speech, Vasyl Khmelnytsky, the initiator of the forum and founder of UFuture holding, emphasized that industrial parks are the key to economic growth and the return of Ukrainians home.
“It is possible to bring our people back from abroad. We need to create competitive opportunities in Ukraine – quality education, jobs, decent wages, living standards and services. An industrial park is just such a point of economic growth and a magnet for innovation, investment and talent. The support of industrial parks by the state and local communities is an investment. Last year, we transferred UAH 18 million in taxes to the local budget, this year – UAH 25 million, and next year – UAH 50 million. In 20 years, we will have paid more than a billion. And this is only the local level. Today, we are laying the foundation for the future 15-20 years ahead,” Vasyl Khmelnytsky said.
The forum also saw the opening of a new plant by Peikko Group (Finland), a leading European manufacturer of solutions for monolithic and prefabricated construction. The enterprise, built on the territory of the industrial park, is an example of foreign business confidence in the potential of Ukrainian industry. The launch of the plant means new jobs, technology transfer and an additional impetus for the development of the production cluster in Bila Tserkva.
“We are investing in Ukraine because of your talent and excellent engineering skills. You have a lot of good know-how and production, a lot of demanding consumers, which is good. And you have a sales market that functions in such a difficult environment, but still works. And this is enough for us to open our production here. It was a risk worth taking. The question was not “why in Ukraine?” but “why not in Ukraine?” And I could not find any reasons why not. That is why we, a European company, are here today. And I would like to emphasize that Ukraine’s place is in Europe,” said Topi Paananen, CEO of Peikko Group, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the plant’s opening.
In addition, Minister of Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba and Viktor Mykyta met with business representatives from different regions during the forum. The conversation was dynamic and constructive.
The event featured a Made in Ukraine expo zone, which presented modern technologies and innovations that are already changing production, urban infrastructure and industrial logistics. Among the solutions presented were automation equipment, construction and infrastructure equipment, machinery for the utility sector, systems for electric mobility, welding, ventilation and material processing, as well as components for industrial and automotive electronics.
The forum showed that despite the war, the Ukrainian industry is not stopping, but is looking for ways to develop and partner. The event has become a space for networking, presenting solutions and finding common ground between business, investors and the government.
