Danube Economic Region

Mid June 2012, Izmail, Odesa Oblast — Round Table on “Forming a Danube Sub-regional Association as a Main Tool to Implement the Danube Sub-region Competitiveness and Economic Development Strategy” for representatives from local governments of the sub-region’s member communities as well as the Odesa Oblast’s State Administration and scientific community: discuss establishment of the Association and sign a Memorandum of Understanding among the leaders of the Odesa Oblast’s city of Izmail and raions of Bolhrad, Izmail, Kiliya, and Reni.

July 11, 2011 — In Odesa, USAID LINC signed a Protocol of Intentions to develop and implement a competitiveness and economic development strategy for Danube Sub-region with the leaders of the Odesa Oblast and the communities that united in the sub-region.

July 15, 2011 — In Izmail, Odesa Oblast, USAID LINC carried out a workshop on community profile development for representatives from the Danube Sub-region’s member community.

August 12, 2011, Izmail, Odesa Oblast — USAID LINC in conjunction with the Council of Europe Program “Strengthening Local Democracy and Support for Local Government Reforms in Ukraine” and the State Foundation for Support of Local Self-Government in Ukraine organized and conducted a round tables on intermunicipal cooperation for the Danube Sub-region.

October 13, 2011, Izmail, Odesa Oblast — At its first meeting, the Expert Committee drafting a competitiveness and economic development strategy for the Danube Sub-region identified priority sectors and critical issues of the future strategy.

November 3, 2011, Izmail, Odesa Oblast — The Expert Committee of the Danube Sub-region, which is drafting a competitiveness and economic development strategy for the territory, formulated a strategic vision of the sub-region at the adjourned first meeting of the committee.

November 17, 2011, Izmail, Odesa Oblast — At its second meeting, the Expert Committee of the Danube Sub-region identified goals of the sub-regional competitiveness and economic development strategy and also adjusted one of its critical issues.

Nov. 30 – Dec. 1, 2011, Izmail, Odesa Oblast — The Expert Committee of the Danube Sub-region at its third meeting identified objectives of the sub-regional competitiveness and economic development strategy being drafted under the guidance of USAID LINC.

December 19-21, 2011, Odesa — The Danube Sub-region Expert Committee split into seven task forces filled out Project Sheets, marking completion of the committee’s work on drafting the sub-regional competitiveness and economic development strategy.

December 23, 2011, Odesa — USAID LINC expert presented the draft Danube Sub-region Competitiveness and Economic Development Strategy to the Odesa Oblast Council of Domestic and Foreign Investors, and achieved support for the document.

April 26, 2012, Odesa — The Odesa Oblast Rada approved the Danube Sub-region Competitiveness and Economic Development Strategy drafted with assistance from USAID LINC. Of 123 Rada members present at the plenary meeting, 102 voted for the decision with two abstainers and 19 non-voting.

April 11, 2012, Odesa — A USAID LINC expert made a presentation of the draft Danube Sub-region Competitiveness and Economic Development Strategy, prepared with assistance from the project, at a meeting of the Odesa Oblast Regional Committee for Economic Reforms chaired by the Odesa Oblast State Administration (OOSA) first deputy chairman, Natalia Chehodar.

March, 1, 2012, Odesa — The Interim Task Force for investment support and foreign relations development of the Odesa Oblast State Administration (OSA) Regional Committee for Economic Reforms discussed implementation of the Danube Sub-region Competitiveness and Economic Development Strategy, drafted with assistance from USAID LINC and pending approval by the Odesa Oblast Rada.

November 25-27, 2011, Odesa — USAID LINC Chief of Party Howard Ockman made a presentation at the Danube Investment Forum, speaking on the importance of business development in the region.