The territory of Crimean Autonomous Republic is 26,1 thousand square km. The Crimea borders with Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions of Ukraine and with Krasnodar Region of the Russian Federation. The State frontier length is 821 km and it can be crossed in nine check points. Crimean Autonomous Republic is divided into 14 districts by administrative structure. The number of population of the Crimea is 2 018 400 people, including 1 265 900 people live in cities and 752 500 people in rural locality.

The land area of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, their internal waters are defined under the Law of Ukraine "On the rights and freedoms of citizens and legal regime in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine" as temporarily occupied territories as a result of military aggression of the Russian Federation. The starting date of the temporary occupation is 20 February 2014.

Cherkasy Region is located in the forest-steppe zone of Ukraine. Its area is 20,9 thousand square km that makes 3,5% of total territory of Ukraine. The region is divided into 20 districts. The region comprises 6 cities of regional and 10 cities of district submission, 15 settlements of rural type and 823 rural settlements. The number of population in Cherkasy Region makes 1435,2 thousand people or 2,9% of total population of Ukraine.

Cherkasy Region is rich in minerals and the most found and developed are non-metallic resources. Over one hundred deposits of the brick-tiled raw material are known that enables to produce roofing and facing materials, hollow ceramic blocks and drainage pipes. There are large supplies of building sands and stone in the region. The productions of the Starobabyn and Tansk deposits of granite are well-known beyond regional boundaries. The benthonic and paligorskite clays are exported also. Cherkasy Region has large reserves of secondary kaolin, brown coal, peat and bauxite. There are well-grounded prognoses on exposure of new deposits of titan, phosphorite, apatite, mineral dyes and combustible slates (Boltysk deposit). The last one is the very perspective on amount and quality (the contents of resin is too higher, and it enables, using the proper technology, to obtain 800 million tons of crude oil here).

In the left-bank part of the region there are large supplies of mineral-medical waters of Myrgorodska and the radon water has been found in Zvenygorod, Talniv, Lysyan and Korsun-Shevchenkivsky districts.

Due to favourable climatic conditions the vegetation is rich in the region, including forests and various fauna.

By the structure of economy the region is industrially-agrarian. In the gross production the share of industry makes 36% as well as agriculture – 27%. More than 300 enterprises are functioning in the region. They produce electric power and coal, mineral fertilizers, ammonia, chemical fibres, facilities of automation and computing engineering, equipment for processing industries, stock-raising and production of forages, consumer goods of food and non food groups. There are the most important branches in the food industry such as sugar, meat processing, wheat-groat, liqueur and vodka, canning. The production volumes are stably extended in the regional industrial complex. For the first half of 2003 there was manufactured the products in operating prices to the amount of 1625,5 million hryvna that exceeds the volume of production output for proper period of previous year by 24,6%. The most productive structures were the enterprises of chemical, food, cellulose-paper and printing industry, enterprises of machine-building and processing of agricultural production.

The agriculture is well-developed in Cherkasy Region: all categories of farms grow cereals and grain legumes, sugar beet, maize and others. The stock-raising industry is intensively developed. For the first half of 2003 the enterprises of regional agroindustrial complex got 300 million hryvna of credits, including agricultural producers – 142 million hryvna, from them on favourable conditions – 66,8 million hryvna.

Today 5353 small enterprises with the number of employees over 45,5 thousand people are functioning in Cherkasy Region. For the first half-year of 2003 the business structures of small business deducted 33,1 million hryvna (by 36,8% bigger than for the proper period of 2002) in budgets of all levels, including in local budgets – 16,9 million hryvna (by 1,6 times bigger).

The investment activity in the region came alive. In the first half-year of 2003 due to all forms of property and sources of financing there were mastered the capital investments to the amount almost 247 million hryvna that is by almost 14% bigger than in the proper period of last year. The investments in the fixed assets prevailed and they made over 220 million hryvna. 76,5% of these facilities was directed in perfection of active part of the fixed assets such as technical equipment, machines and mechanisms; it was directed 23,5% on building and installation works. By the types of economic activity the most investments in the fixed assets were provided by the enterprises of processing industry, including food industry, production of machines and equipment, electric power, gas and water, wholesale and retail trade, repair services, ground transport and communication, agriculture.

For January-April, 2003 almost 300 enterprises of different forms of property performed the foreign trade operations with partners from 72 countries. The volume of foreign trade for this period of time made USD 130 million (129,2% to the proper period of last year). In the commodity structure of export the most share is covered by fertilizers (30%), synthetic and artificial threads (16,1%), organic chemical compounds (14%), clothes (5,9%), wood and wood wares (4%), machines and equipments (3,7%). The mass from wood, paper, cardboard, products of chemical and branches connected with it, machines and equipments, textile and garment, tobacco is imported.

And however the much riches of Cherkasy Region are its people. Their welfare and health is the subject of permanent attention of the regional power. The health protection sphere of the region comprises 268 medical and prophylactic establishments of all types, including 213 ambulatory-out-patient (106 establishments are incorporated with hospitals). For providing before-doctor medical-sanitary help to the rural population 565 feldsher-midwife stations and 29 feldsher health stations at industrial enterprises and organizations function in the region. 4834 doctors and 14 390 middle medical employees work in the field of health protection.

Five children's sanatoriums are functioning in the region. The children from 3 to 14 years old with the diseases of cardio-vascular system, respiratory organs, digestion, buds and urethra tracks, motoric system, with psychoneurological diseases and patients with tuberculosis are making healthy here. 9-10 thousand children makes healthy annually. All sanatoriums have the medical-diagnostic equipment and provide the wide range of medical services, including physical therapy; their personnel has a great experience of rehabilitation-health work with children.

As mean of support of health the sport is widely propagandized in Cherkasy Region. 45 sport schools, including one school for invalids, 31 stadiums, 11 swimming pools and 586 sporting halls are functioning in the region.

The process of improvement of the network of educational establishments is proceeding in Cherkasy Region that enables to diversify types, structure and forms of studies. The region has the very high potential of the gifted young people: including from their total number of subject Olympiad participants of the country 40 pupils (55%) are its natives. There are 706 preschool establishments and 709 schools in the region as well as Small Academy of Sciences, Small Academy of Arts and 12 specialized schools. The schools are computerized and in 2003 due to different sources of financing 1469 computer facilities were acquired; 107 educational computer complexes were equipped; 37 general educational establishments were connected to the network Internet, including 6 establishments have their sites. 10 thousand students are studying in 27 vocational schools by 119 working specialities. Over 50 thousand students are studying in 27 establishments of higher education of І-ІV levels of accreditation. Almost all these cells (99,9%) work in the Ukrainian language regime.

The wide network of cultural-art establishments operates in Cherkasy Region. These are regional musical-drama theatre named after T. G. Shevchenko, regional theatre of dolls, regional philharmonic society, Kaniv state school of culture, Uman state musical school named after P. D. Demutsky, Cherkasy musical school named after S. S. Gulak-Artemovsky, 40 schools of aesthetic education, 738 Houses of culture, 766 libraries and museums. Such detail testifies to the increase of the culture standard of regional population: for the last 10 years the number of newspapers and magazines published in the region has been increased by 8 times. The palette of these editions is too various. The thematic orientation covers all spheres of public life, orientated on practically all social groups of population.

Cherkasy land gave life and accepted in its cuddles prophet of Ukraine Taras Shevchenko. The state mind and military talent of hetman Bogdan Khmelnytsky has been raised in Cherkasy land and the local people has firstly glorified his exploits, and exploits of his associates as Ivan Bogun and Maxim Kryvonos. The motion of haidamaks by the leadership of Maxim Zaliznyak and Ivan Gonta appeared in the Kholodny Yar forests. In the small town of Kamyanka on the slopes of the Tyasmyn River in the estate of Davydovy the group of officers later named by Decembrists developed the plans of overthrow of czarist regime. The historical inheritance of Cherkasy land is carefully protected in six historical-cultural preserves and 39 state museums, which accumulate memory about the former capital of register Cossacks, Korsun-Shevchenkivsky battle in the Great Patriotic War, writers S. S. Gulak-Artemovsky, I. S. Nechuy-Levytsky, Ivan Le and others as well as memory about many hundred those nameless Ukrainians created the miracle for almost two centuries – the Dendrology Park «Sofiyivka». The present of Cherkasy Region is also result of selfless labour of people lived here.

Cherkasy Region is picturesque, flowering and rich land, which has all conditions that people here will be lived better.

Occupying 5% of the territory, where 2.6% of population of Ukraine lives, the region provides production 70% of total Ukrainian output of woolens, 80% of wallpapers, 34% of chemical fibres and 13% of extraction of oil. Chernihiv Region, unique in Ukraine, produces cord fabric, fire trucks, protein coats, pianos, separate types of equipment for branches of agroindustrial complex.

The industry sustainable works with growth, there is a rise of technical level and technological updating of its leading industries, which function on the internal market mainly and satisfy the demands of consumers. These are food industry and processing of agricultural products, light and woodworking industries. The production of science-intensive goods for demands of defence and aerospace industry is increased.

The special attention is paid to achievement of stability in work of leading enterprises, which determine the rates of social and economic development of the region, increasing a level of competitiveness of production and export products.

Lately the efforts are put for solution of problems of re-orientation of production into the technological updating, further development and more effective use of home material-resource base and advantageous geographical location of the region. The innovation development of the sphere of material production is accelerated; the number of innovation active enterprises is increased, including such public corporations as Avtodetal, CheZaRa, Siveryanka, Brewery "Desna", Koryukivskiy Plant of Technical Papers and Gnidyntsivskiy Gas-Remaker Plant.

The Scientific and Technical Council has been established in the structure of the regional state administration for co-ordination of works in this direction and successfully functions here. The plan of measures on stimulation of scientific-technical and innovation activity in the region is consistently developed that provides introduction of ten newest resource conversation technologies and mastering of many hundred new types of products annually.

The positive changes are taken place in the agrarian sector. Beginning from 2000 the sustainable tendency to growth of gross products of agriculture has been shown. Today Chernihiv Region provides 35.9% of national production of flax fibre, almost 7% of potato and 5% of milk.

The changes of property forms on land took place; the problem of providing citizens with land plots has been solved; the pre-conditions for market development of land were created. The leasing relations are being developed. The reformation of agrarian sector is accompanied with the further development of infrastructure of agrarian market, increase of sale volumes of agricultural production through stock exchanges, introduction of market mechanisms in the system of providing village with material and technical resources.

It positively influences on economic indicators of the branch. The region has overfulfiled the programme tasks of the year 2002 on production of grain, sugar beets, vegetables, eggs, cattle and poultry in living weight.

The investment activity in the region is directed in realization of tasks of the regional programme of investments attraction in economic development of the region and rows of measures oriented in acceleration of development of production and social infrastructure. As well as for the last time, the main efforts are concentrated on updating of production funds in industries of material sphere, where 80% of investments are attracted. The special attention is paid to providing effective use of facilities on development of social sphere. Therefore such investments are foremost directed in commission of starting objects, which have the primary value. The rates of housing building are accelerated. The main accent is done on solution of problems of youth housing building crediting within the framework of the programmes «Own House» and «Available Habitation for Young Family of Chernihiv Region».

The inflow of investments on the territory of priority development becomes more intensive. Today 10 projects with the total cost of USD 40 million are developed on territories with the special regime of investing that gave possibility to provide production of goods to the amount of 129 million hryvna in 2002 only, including 90 million hryvna for export as well as to create and keep more than one thousand working places. It is foremost projects on mastering and manufacturing of new types of wallpapers, arrangement of production of seeding potato and growing and processing of flax, woodworking, making of starch and others. The calculations testify that the volumes of investments on development of territories of priority development will make almost USD 190 million till 2010 with additional creation of 6.8 thousand new and saving 8.2 thousand working places.

The circle of enterprises with foreign investments is extended. There were registered more than 40 such enterprises in different spheres of economy. Among them there are JSC "Tobacco Company of "Pryluky" (Ukrainian-English), JSC "Chernihiv Brewery "Desna" (Ukrainian-Belgian), "Cheksil-Ariadna" (Ukrainian-American) – trade in woolens, JV "ChNGG" with PE "Regal Petroleum Corporation Limited" – boring of mining holes. More than USD 61.3 million of foreign capital was invested in development of the regional economy on the whole.

The region supports the external economic relations with 81 countries of the world and carries out export to 58 countries of the world. It gave possibility to increase the foreign trade turnover to the amount of USD 326 million in 2002 with positive balance to the amount of USD 7.6 million. The region traditionally exports the products of food group, wood and wood wares, chemical fibre, paper wares, transport vehicles and equipment. The raw material, which directly provides production processes in the industrial complex, is imported mostly.

Russia, Germany, Lithuania, Brazil, USA and Byelorussia are the most trading partners of the region.

The signing of agreements about trade and economic, scientific and technical and cultural collaboration between Chernihiv and Moscow regions, Chernihiv, Bryansk and Gomel regions assist in further development of foreign economic relations; the agreement with Tatarstan Republic is prepared for signing.

The business communities of Chernihiv Region closely co-operate with the representatives of Gomel, Moscow and Mogilev regions, Poland and Hungary.

The preparatory works on creation of the Euroregion "Dniepr" proceeds on territories of Chernihiv, Gomel and Bryansk regions.

The great results were achieved in production of commodities of public consumption and the region occupies leading positions in Ukraine by growth rates of its production.

The positive changes in forming of internal market and its satiation by commodities of domestic production were taken place; its share makes 90% of the general volume of retail commodity turnover.

The conducting of traditional exhibitions-fairs in the region between Ukrainian regions and in every district assists in propaganda of production resources of enterprises and expansion of internal and external relations. The problems of trade in excisable goods, development of network of firm shops of wholesale-retail link is under the permanent control.

Due to the extension of volumes of high-quality and competitive products, realization of protectionism measures on protection of home commodity manufacturer and growth of real incomes of population the internal market has been considerably enlarged and the volumes of retail commodity turnover are gradually extended.

The activity of sphere of services came alive. The special attention in providing development of this important sphere is paid to creation of servicing, public utility enterprises and cooperative societies with granting priorities to revival of this sphere at village.

The sphere of small business gradually activates the activity. Only in 2002 600 small enterprises were created in the region and its operating number made 4,4 thousand items. Today they cover 6% of total production volumes of confectionary, 7% of meat, 13 % of groats, 25% of furniture, 22% of joiner's wares, 60 % of wares of folk trades, 40% of book-magazine products, and also such unique products as wires and cable, band saws, domestic clock, metal-cutting and woodworking machine-tools.

Today 73 thousand persons work in the sphere of regional business. The small business covers more than 20% of all incomes in local budgets.

The important attention is paid to providing support of businessmen, which start own business. For reduction of regulation procedures the registration by the principle "One Office" is introduced. The well-developed infrastructure for business development assistance has been created in the region. These are Business Supporting Regional Fund in Chernihiv Region, business-center founded by assistance of the International Financial Corporation, regional consulting center, Chernihiv local innovation business-incubator, Center of woman business support and 16 credit unions.

The Chernihiv Regional State Administration continues activity on development of the Strategy of Social and Economic Development of the Region till 2011 began by participation of the Council of Ukrainian Productive Forces Study of the NASU at the end of 2002. The Strategy will define basic priorities of development for long-term prospect and will be directed on solution of complex of primary social and economic problems of Chernihiv Region development.

Chernivtsi Region is situated on the crossroads throughfares between the Central, Southern and Eastern Europe in the foot-hill of the Carpathian. It is one of the youngest regions of Ukraine. The region was established in August, 1940.

The regional area is 8,1 thousand square km. The region comprises 11 districts, 11 cities, including two cities of regional submission, 8 settlements of urban type and 397 rural settlements. The number of population is 922.8 thousand people (representatives of almost 80 nationalities and ethnic groups).

The region is rich in natural resources. On the territory of Bukovyna they discovered four oil and gas fields (Lopushnyanske, Chornoguzke, Krasnoyilske and Sheremetivske). The Lopushynske oil field is exploited.

The bowels of Bukovyna contain considerable resources of construction materials. In the Dniestr River area in the basin of the Prut River there are the sizeable fields of gypsum and anhydride. The northern and eastern fields of the region are rich in marl and limestone. There is a perspective marble field in the village of Krasnoyilske.

For brick, tile and pottery production they use loam prolific in villages of Vyzhnytsky district. For road construction and facing building walls the foxy and grey sandstone is widely used. The different types of sand are extracted in villages of Zastavnivsky district. There are also the fields of quartzite slates and kitchen salt on the region’s territory.

The mineralogical resources of Chernivtsi Region are deposits of mineral waters of following types as Izhevska, Matssesta, Borjomi and Naftusya as well as mud cure. With the geological structure and specific conditions there are connected practically inexhaustible resources of medical mineral waters with varied chemical composition used for treatment of various diseases. Over 60 resources of mineral waters are known. The industrial bottling of table and medical waters (15 resources) is carried out such as Bukovynska, Brusnytska, Kelmenchaky, Khreshchatyk and others. The water of the Brusnytsky deposit containing sulphuric-hydrogen and soda hydro carbonate and chloride sodium components has the special demand. It determines its medical properties. Based on the mineral springs there are three balneology resorts here: in the villages of Brusnytsya and Shcherbantsi and in Chernivtsi.

There are over 70 rivers on the region’s territory, which belong to the basins of the Danube and Dniestr Rivers.

They call Bukovyna a jewel of Ukraine. The forests are its special riches, being wooden raw and products of non wood plant product. The fir-tree, beech, silver fir and oak are its main wood making breeds. The forest management is conducted on the principles of continuous, non exhausting forest usage, improvement of conditions and increase of productivity of forests.

The economic activity of the region for the last years is marked by the sustainable growth of many indexes. It takes place due to active support of traditional activities.

The powerful industrial complex was formed in Chernivtsi Region comprising enterprises of food industry, machine-building and metal-working, timber and woodworking, chemical and petrochemical, light industry and power engineering. 228 industrial enterprises are functioning in the region and their production volume makes 0,4% of the Ukrainian volume.

In 2003 the production volumes of industrial goods were extended. For January-June, 2003 the industrial enterprises produced the goods to the amount of 354.5 million hryvna that is by 23.6% higher than for the proper period of 2002. By growth rates of industrial production the region took 3rd place among other regions of Ukraine.

The increase of industrial production volume is ensured by the growing production facilities at the enterprises of processing industry providing 80.2% of the general regional output. The production volumes in these enterprises grew by 26.1%. Almost 22% of the products of this industry are manufacturing in sugar and confectionary industry. Following enterprises of this industry bring a substantial contribution to increase of production volume; JSC «Chernivtsimyasopromservis», PE "Kolos", JSC "Rozy Bukovyny", Production Commercial Trading Firm "Bukovynka" JSC, SE "Myaso Bukovyny" and JSC "Novoselyts Poultry Plant".

The important role is played by the light industry. It is represented with following subsections as sewing, textile, knitting, tanning, fur and footwear. 23 enterprises of the light industry cover 18.5% of the general number of industrial-manufacturing staff in the region.

The Chernivtsi Joint-Stock Company "Trembita" is one of the power enterprises in the light industry. This is a one of the leaders in man's and woman's garment production. Among priorities of development of this public corporation there is modernization, automated manufacturing, course on excellent quality of products and permanent range updating for satisfaction of the most demanding tastes of customers. The substantial efforts for the industry are made by such enterprises as JV "Konftrem", JSC "Rozma", Production Commercial Trading Firm "Accent" LLC and JV "Suzirya".

The significance increase was made by the enterprises of machine-building, repair and assembling of machines and equipment, food industry and processing of agricultural products, metallurgy and metalworking, production of wood and wood wares. The LLC "Chernivtsi Machine-Building Plant" is the most powerful machine-building enterprise in the region. The enterprise manufactures the unique equipment for processing, transportation, storage and synthesis of oil, gas and condensate as well as equipment for power engineering and large-scale chemistry objects.

The most substantial increase of production volumes in 2002 was made by the enterprises of metallurgy and metalworking, which provides 7.4% of the regional industrial production volume.

Constantly extending the assortment and mastering new types of products the LLC "ARGO" annually increases the industrial production volumes and its share makes 56.3% in the section.

The production volumes of commodities of public consumption are extended that testifies to strengthening of social orientation of production. By growth rates the region takes 5th place among other regions of Ukraine. The production growth of commodities of public consumption is ensured by the increase of production of food and non food consumer goods of 33 and 17.3% respectively.

The tendency to the increase of volumes of production sale and reduction of level of barter deals is kept. The volume of the shipped products for January-May, 2003 made 328.7 million hryvna or 112.6% to the production volume of the proper period.

The activity in the field of agroindustrial complex of the region for January-June, 2003 was directed in providing implementation of tasks of agricultural production development in the region and reformation of agrarian sector. The land reform is completed. Almost 190 thousand citizens became the proprietors of land shares in the region and one third of them got the state acts on the right of land property.

The leading place among industries of agriculture is occupied by the plant growing providing 56% of the agricultural production volume. The production of corn, potato and beets is the basic directions of plant growing development.

The growth rates of stock raising gross production are kept; the total number of cattle grows. For January-June, 2003 in the facilities of all forms of property there was produced 22.7 thousand tones of meat (in living weight), milk – 165.9 thousand tones, eggs – 146.1 million items and wool – 133 tons. The production of meat has been increased by 2.5% as well as eggs – 10.1%.

The regional market of food by all basic types of food stuffs, except for corn, is supersaturated, therefore for all categories of facilities there is important to create infrastructure network on processing of agricultural raw material and network of servicing enterprises.

There are positive changes in the construction complex. It comprises 113 contract building-assembling organizations including 16,8% of the state form of property. In 2002 the enterprises and organizations-builders of all forms of property at expense of financing sources put into service the fixed assets with the actual cost of 186.3 million hryvna.

The bus rout network has been formed in the region and now it is able to satisfy the growing demands of population in passenger transportation.

The main foreign economic activity indicators continue to grow. The regional foreign trade turnover for January-May, 2003 makes USD 47.9 million that is by 27.1% higher than for the proper period of 2002. The export volumes were extended by 11.4% as well as import – 1.5 times and made USD 25.6 and USD 22.3 million respectively. The export and import operations of the regional business structures with the foreign countries are prevailing in external contacts. The main trading partners from this group of countries are Germany, Italy, Bulgaria and Poland.

The regional investment attractiveness became better for the last time. In 2002 the foreign investors invested USD 3.5 million of direct investments in the regional economy that is by 1.9 times higher than in 2001.

One of priority industries of economy of this land is tourism. The geological and geomorphological formations of Northern Bukovyna have the large cognitive and aesthetical value. The residents of Bukovyna love and can act as host. They are sincerely interested in that the circle of their friends becomes wider.

Dnipropetrovsk Region is one of the most perspective, industrial and cultural well-developed centers of Ukraine, potential and reliable partner of the European Community and its business structures.

Dnipropetrovs'k Region was established in 1932. The number of population is 3 532 800 people. Today Dnipropetrovs'k Region comprises 22 administrative districts, 21 cities, 47 settlements of urban type and 1440 rural settlements.

Dnipropetrovs'k Region has powerful production potential. The share of Dnipropetrovs'k Region in the national industrial production makes 15,7% of general volume, besides the most minerals of Ukraine are extracted here. The regional enterprises provide 82% of iron-stone of the national production, 100% of manganese ore, 36% of cast-iron, 33.6% of steel, 73.5% of steel pipes, 13% of finished coal, 15% of mineral fertilizers and 24% of tires. Over 40 leading enterprises of the region got the quality system international certificates. The most developed industries are mining-metallurgical and machine-building complexes, chemical, processing and food industries.

1719 agricultural enterprises and more than 3.4 thousand farm facilities function in the region. The leading directions of agroindustrial complex are follows as growing of cereals, vegetable and technical crops, development of meat and dairy stock-raising and poultry farming. The land reform is actively developed in the region that assists to development of farm facilities. The real results of this work were in 2002: the harvest of cereals made practically 1 ton of grain per capita in the region in 2002.

Dnipropetrovs'k Region plays leading role in the field of foreign economic activity of the country. The products of regional enterprises are known in the world markets and imported by over 100 countries of the world. For the last few years the investments from 60 countries of the world were attracted in the regional economy; over 460 enterprises with foreign investments are successfully functioning in all industries of economy.

The present economic potential of Dnipropetrovs'k Region is more than 700 plants and factories, shafts, mines, mining and concentrating works, power stations, which cover about 20 main types of economic activity. The majority of products of this sector of economy was certificated and meets the European and world levels of quality.

The development of unique international project – the programme of sea launched missile complex "Maritime Start" and "Global Star" is the convincing evidence of hi-tech and competition possibilities of regional industry; the launch vehicles "Zenith" and "Cyclone" made at the Dnipropetrovs'k Plant "Pivdenmash" are used here.

By scientific and technical potential Dnipropetrovs'k Region confidently occupies one of the first places in Ukraine. At the same time, the development of modern scientific researches requires significance investments. And here international cooperation comes for help. There are many projects by the Programme "Tempus/ TACIS" EC in Dnipropetrovs'k Region. Only one Dnipropetrovs'k National University due to participation in various projects by this programme gets additionally one million euro annually. It helps not only to keep unique scientific schools and directions, which were sometimes made for centuries, but also to facilitate integration of our science and high school in European institutions. The benefit is mutual, as today the large science is created by the integrated and multinational scientific associations.

There is not exploited variety of natural minerals in the region. The regional future is in development of non-ferrous, gold mining and gold processing industries. The potential resources of gold, molybdenum, tungsten in a few districts of Dnipropetrovs'k Region testify convincingly that after full completion of geological survey works the region will have a few large deposits of gold as well as medium deposits of molybdenum and tungsten.

The Dnieper titan province, one of the biggest in the world is located in Dnipropetrovs'k Region and within its limits the loose ores of titan and zirconium are already developed. The supplies of ferrous and manganese ores, powerful deposits of uranium and perspective deposits of silicate nickel ores are known.

From the developed supplies of non-metal minerals it is possible to name the Prosyansky deposit of primary kaolin, which by supplies and quality of raw material is one of the best in the world.

For the last 5 years the annual volume of regional foreign trade turnover makes about USD 4 billion at positive balance of foreign trade. The region confidently keeps positions of one of the leading exporters of Ukraine, including export of hi-tech products.

The deliveries of mineral fuel, products of machine-building and chemical industry, paper and cardboard prevail in the structure of import.

By results of the annual rating of investment attractiveness of Ukrainian regions conducted by the Kyiv Institute of Reforms, Dnipropetrovs'k Region took the third place after Kyiv and Donetsk. Above all things, the priorities are placed in behalf of industry and trade. Taking into account the specific of the region these industries can be forecast as most attractive. In the field of services the share of foreign investments is maximally concentrated on operations with the real estate and services to the legal entities. Such industries as chemical and petrochemical, metallurgy and metalworking, food and processing of agricultural products, machine-building, cellulose-paper are less popular among investors for direct investing.

It is necessary to mark growth of direct investments volume attracted to the sphere of services to the population such as restaurant and hotel business, medical-health complex and centers of leisure. As a result the demand in direct investing in the field of operations with the real estate grew, and, the necessity of building investing is directly raised.

Taking into account potential resources of the region and already formed contacts with foreign investors the prognoses about investment attractiveness of Dnipropetrovs'k Region are positive. Therefore the information environment in the region must be extended, in particular, its leading industrial enterprises, because the region is considered as industrial historically.

Among  examples of the positive influence of investments on regional economy it is possible to select such enterprises, as the JSC "Dnipromine" – manufacturer of trellis products, SPE LLC "LVS" – manufacturer of high quality furniture, JSC "Olvia Beta Trading" – production of chemical detergents, Poultry Farm «Pervomayska» and others. The leading foreign companies of world level such as Rannila, Mc Donald's' and Billa-Ukraine successfully function in the region.

The religious-spiritual life of the land is regenerated after the long years of atheistic prohibitions. For the last 5 years the number of registered religious organizations grew more than twice.

Sending its development on the future, Dnipropetrovs'k Region develops science and culture. Today about 160 thousand students are studying in higher educational establishments of the region. The creation of the network of modern educational establishments oriented to personality of child acquired the wide development. 10 higher educational establishments of the region have licenses of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine on studies of foreign students. Without regard to economic difficulties, the region saved the high scientific and technical potential. Over 100 research institutions of different orientation work on solution of present problems. They enrol over 4500 candidates of sciences and 750 doctors of sciences. The scientists of Dnipropetrovs'k Region successfully solve the multi-plan tasks – from forming and realization of the space programme of Ukraine to creation of energy conservation and environment friendly technologies in mining, metallurgy, chemical industry, construction and agriculture. They developed and introduced projects at the level of achievements of world science in the region. But today both science and education need financial investments that will give possibility to modernize educational process, to create more wide information space for scientists and students and to give such equipment, which will promote the realization of the most strong scientific developments and projects.

Dnipropetrovs'k Region has great achievements in the field of culture. 1446 establishments of culture, including 9 theatres, philharmonic society, 7 museums and 765 libraries function in the region. The originality of Dnipropetrovs'k Region culture is in the Petrikivsk decorative painting and art of artistic embroidery. The activity of cinemas is renovated.

The system of social services is extended; the medical service of population gets better; the confident steps on creation of family and insurance medicine at the simultaneous saving of free medical services are done. Over 48 thousand medical specialists are employed in health protection sector on the whole.

The public order and public activity of population of the region promote the economic transformations further. The European choice of Ukraine is that pointer for Ukrainian peoples, which means construction of civil society step by step and socially oriented market economy.

Powerful industrial Donetsk Region is situated in the steppe zone of the south-eastern part of Ukraine. It was established on July 17, 1932. The area is 26.5 thousand square km, or 4.4% of the total territory of Ukraine. By number of the population (about 5 million people) Donetsk Region is the biggest one in Ukraine.

There are 28 cities and 17 districts of regional value, 134 settlements of urban type and 1122 rural settlements in the regional administrative-territorial structure.

The regional economic potential is 822 industrial, 16 thousand small and almost 600 agricultural enterprises of all forms of property, over 500 specialized construction organizations and 2132 farm facilities. Donetsk Region provides the one fifth part of national industrial production and takes the leading places in Ukraine on making basic types of industrial and agricultural products.

The area of the regional agricultural land makes almost 2 million ha, including 1,6 million ha of plough-land. The realization of main directions of agrarian reform is lasting in the region. 1460 thousand ha of lands are shared. On the base of 426 collective agricultural enterprises there were formed new 612 agricultural enterprises.

The active forming of the agrarian market infrastructure began in 2000. 3 commodity stock exchanges, 29 agro-trading houses, 125 wholesale markets, 55 service cooperative societies, 935 purveying points, 11 credit unions and 1074 other new  structures are functioning in the region.

In the industrial production the most increase has been made in industries manufacturing the finished products such as machine-building, food and processing industry. The production output of the regional food and processing industry has been increased by 20% in comparable prices. In particular, the production of sausages made 34.8% as well as products from whole milk – 43.6%, confectionary – 6.1%, oil – 62.4%, food salt – 12.8% and mineral water – 9.6%.

The production of vodka and liqueur-vodka products has been increased by 2,5 times as well as Champaign – 28,7% and beer – 19.8%. Over 160 new types of competitive products were mastered. Following enterprises are successfully functioning such as JSC "A.V.K.", JSC PA "Kyiv-Conti", JSC "Europroduct", LLC "Kolbiko", LLC "Cargill Works", SPA "Artemsil", LLC "Donetsk Meat Processing and Packing Plant", JSC "Donetsk Macaroni Factory", JSC "Slovmoloko", JSC "Donetsk City Milk Factory № 2" and JSC "Sarmat".

The production volumes of machine-building by comparison with the proper period of 2002 were extended by 60,7% and it makes 2,8 billion hryvna in operating wholesale prices. The production volume increase was provided by the machine-building production growth in following public corporations as Azovzagalmash, Mariupol Plant of Heavy Engineering, Topaz, Donetskgirmash, Gorlivka Mashynobudivnyk, Druzhkivka Machine-Building Plant, Donbaskabel and Novy Kramаtorsk  Machine-Building Plant.

The production increase of blast-furnace and steelmaking equipment made 3.5 times as well as stocked rolling – 15.5%, freight trunk cars– 2.6 times, metal-cutting machine-tools – 24%, tunnelling machines – 47.4%, cutter-loaderes and plough systems – 27.8%, mining cars – 3 times, mine electric locomotives – 3.5 times and dressing equipment – 9 times. Due to mastering of new types of competitive products and increase of its manufacturing volumes the machine-building enterprises exported 53.5% of its production.

In the metallurgy and metal-working the production volume was extended by 15.7% by comparison with the proper period of 2002. The production of cast-iron has been increased by 10.3% as well as steel – 8.2%, rolling of ferrous metals – 6.6%, 6% humidity coke – 21.2% and steel pipes – 1.8 times. The subsequent technical rearmament and modernization of productions of this industry is lasting.

The production volume in chemical and petrochemical industry has been extended by 13.2% and it makes 770,9 million hryvna in operating wholesale prices. The output of polystyrene and co-polymers has been increased by 6.1 times as well as synthetic hydrogen nitride – 11% and mineral fertilizers – 5.3%.

The production volume and distributing of electric power in comparable prices to the level of the first half-year of 2002 has been extended by 23%. The thermal power stations and block stations produced 13.7 billion kW of electric power that is by 24.1% higher than for the proper period of 2002. The generating capacities of TPP were used by 37% on average (in 2002 – by 30%). In the Novy Azov wind power station two modern Belgian windmills with the capacity of 600 kW respectively were commissioned. These powerful mills are put into operation not only in Ukraine but also in the countries of CIS for the first time.

Following state enterprises as Selydivvugillya, Makiyivvugillya, Shakhtarskantratsyt and Production Works "Krasnoarmiyska-Zakhidna № 1" worked with the increase of coal mining volumes.

The enterprises of motor transport and subjects of entrepreneurial activity carried 171.2 million passengers that is by 4.5% higher than for the first half-year of 2002. The volume of cargo transportation has been extended by 19.1% and it makes 12.6 million tones. The goods turnover was increased by 45%.

The volume of the delivered freight in the Donetsk railway by comparison with the proper period of 2002 has been extended by 5.9%. The passenger transportation has been increased by 2.4%. The Donetsk State Airline «Donbas Eastern Airlines of Ukraine» increased the passenger transportation volumes by 55% and it made 80.7 thousand people.

The enterprises of Donetsk Region provided the increase of 22.6% of commodities of national consumption by comparison with the first half-year of 2002, including food – 15.9% and non food –  28.6%, alcoholic beverage – 46.0%. The production of household washing-machines, refrigerators and freezers, coloured TV sets, leather footwear and toilet soap has been increased.

The production volumes of non food consumers goods due to stable work of the JSC «Nord», Ukrainian-Russian JSC "Druzhkivka Gas Equipment Making Plant", "Donbas" Donetsk Production and Trade Enterprise JSC, JSC "Elektropobutprylad", LLC "Ukrainian Industrial Resources", LLC "Donbas Plus", LLC "Furniture Factory "Ergotechnologies" and others.

The enterprises of retail trade, which network has been extended by 297 units, and restaurant economy sold the commodities of public consumption to the amount of 1840.5 million hryvna that is by 19.6% higher than for the first half-year of 2002 in operating prices as well as in comparable prices – 15%.

For 6 months of 2003 the regional foreign trade commodity turnover made USD 2842.3 million that is by 47% higher than for the proper period of 2002. The export volumes were extended by 50.6% as well as import – 34.5%. More than 57% of industrial products made in the region, is exported. The Russian Federation covering over 22% of the general foreign trade turnover volume is the main partner of Donetsk Region in foreign economic activity. The export to the countries of Africa has been increased by 1.9 times as well as Europe and Asia – 1.6 times and to the countries of America – 19%.

For the first half-year the volume of investments in the fixed assets (capital investments) at expense of all sources of financing in construction of new, expansion, reconstruction and technical rearmament of operating objects of all industries of economy made 1702 million hryvna.

The main source of investment activity (68.9% of the general volume) is the personal funds of enterprises and organizations. For construction of habitation they invested 73.7 million hryvna. The dwelling-houses with the general area of 109.4 thousand square m were put into service.

For the first half-year of 2003 the Council of special economic zones and special regime of investment activity in Donetsk Region approved to development 19 investment projects with the general cost of USD 246,3 million.

The regional economy is served by 137 banks and banking institutions, 17 insurance companies and 24 stock exchanges. The interests of enterprises and organizations of production, commercial, agroindustrial, scientific-technical, insurance and bank-financial spheres of the region in Ukraine and abroad are represented by the Donetsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In the field of small business 159.4 thousand people are employed that makes 5,6% of total number of capable working population of the region and 14% of the total number employed in the regional economy. In 2002 the enterprises of small business made the products, executed works and rendered services to the amount of 2265.7 million hryvna that makes 4.4% of the regional production volume.

The new facilities on processing of wastes of coal dressing in Dobropollya, polymeric wastes (second line) in Druzhkivka and literary garbage in Donetsk were commissioned. The assembling of equipment for development of rock dump of the mine "Shakhtarska-Glyboka" in Shaktarsk has been performed; the construction of waste processing plant is lasting and the assembling of plant on utilization of hard domestic and technogenic wastes in Kramatorsk has been started. The incomes in the regional aggregate budget made 1897.6 million hryvna for the first half-year of 2003 or 60% to the year prognosis. By comparison with the proper period of last year the actual incomes were increased by 26.8%.

The social orientation of use of budgetary money is kept. Over 80% of charges of general fund of local budgets is directed on maintenance of establishments of education, health protection and social security.

Having powerful industrial potential and insistingly working, the representatives of Donetsk Region are confidently looking forward.

An anti-terrorist operation is being conducted on the territory of the separate Donetsk region oblasts as to address the terrorist threat and contaion the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

The harmonious fir-trees rise in the sky by green wall. The sweet-scented grass covers a mountain valley by colourful carpet. Wherever you glance over the forest greens everywhere, the Blue Mountains tower over, and between them the rapid rivers and streams discharge it pure waters to the Prut River and further to the wide reaches of the Dnister River.

But Ivano-Frankivs’k Region is not only a beauty. Here there are highly developed agriculture and forestry, electric power industry, fuel, chemical and petrochemical, machine-building and metal-working, woodworking, light and food branches of the industry. Here more than 7100 enterprises and 38 500 registered businessmen successfully work. The highly developed market infrastructure assists to this process. It includes 42 bank institutions, 45 credit associations, Regional Fund of Entrepreneurship Support, 74 insurance organizations, 5 stock exchanges, Investment Company and two investment funds, seven dealers by securities, Ivano-Frankivs’k Chamber of Commerce and Industry, seven consulting and 26 auditing firms, Regional Agency of Economic Development and Agency of Foreign Investments Assistance. The six trading houses function in the infrastructure of the agroindustrial complex, as well as branch of the Leasing Company "Ukragroleasing", 94 food-vegetable markets and 158 servicing cooperative societies. The practice of successfully functioning five business-centers spreads on every city and district of the region today. The enterprise registration chambers “One Window” have been established at majority of them.

For many centuries the highly developed industrial, forest and agricultural base, economic and business experience of local population were reliable basis for the further economic growth. Only in 2002 the plant of linoleum with annual productivity of 5 million sq.m, four oil and one gas wells, automatic gas-filling compressor station, 11 gas stations, 1,8 km of trolleybus lines, 10 km of lines of electricity transmissions and gas pipelines each, 204 km of networks of gas-supplying, 17 km of oil products pipeline, 7 km of motor-roads, six bridges and bridge crossings were put into service.

From the objects of social sphere, the regional state administration pays the special attention to it construction, the section of building of the Law Faculty of the Prykarpattia University was put into service as well as audience of the commercial college, five rural schools for 1000 pupil places and 1366 dwelling-houses for 1858 apartments, including 82% was constructed by private builders.

The construction of 12 schools, 6 objects in hospitals and sanatoriums and modern trading complexes in the regional center is being lasted. For the first quarter of 2003 the enterprises and organizations mastered 131 million hryvna of investments in the fixed assets. Thus the enterprises and population of the region are the most investors.

Among the main problems of the region there is high comparative unemployment rate - 4.7%. For its decline the regional state administration directs regional economic policy to creation of favourable conditions for activity of enterprises, their technological update and financial restructuring, creation of working places and development of competition. For development of small business it is foreseen to allocate more than 1,1 million hryvna from the regional budget in 2003. Due to the comprehensive assistance of local authorities the number of small enterprises has been increased by 2.9% in 2002 as well as registered businessmen by 14.2%. The project on revival of the Linzhykarske weaving at more high artistic level in Kosivskiy District is under development.

The purposeful work gives the positive results. The industrial production of the region is  growing fourth year in succession. In January-April, 2003 the volumes of output of industrial production exceeded by 25.2% the level of the same period of previous year and made 1085.2 million hryvna; the output of commodities of public consumption has been increased by 21%.

The growth of 47.7% has been achieved in the chemical and petrochemical industry due to performed initiatives and under direct guidance of the regional state administration investment directed restructuring of the JSC "Oriana". For the short term the foreign and national investors were attracted and the new companies by different directions of activity were established. In January-April, 2003 the production volumes of the JSC "Lukor" exceeded the  volumes of the same period of previous year by almost half. The Subsidiary "Orisil-Kalush" of the LLC "Orisil" increased the production twice as well as the LLC "Magniy" by 20%. The Joint Venture "Vinisin" after put into operation of new capacities on production of linoleum increased the output by one and a half times. The JSC "Korsnas-Oriana-Ukraine" produced the packaging materials to the amount of 9.5 million hryvna in 2002. The activity of such companies as Magniy and Factory of Carbidic Resins is being regulated. In 2002 the enterprises, established on the base of property complex of the JSC "Oriana", sold the production to the amount of 524.6 million hryvna and that is over twice bigger than in 1999.

After the conducted financial reconstructing the output of production of another strategically important enterprise of the chemical industry – the LLC "Barva', which produces dyes and auxiliary substances for textile industry, has been increased.

With the purpose of attraction of partners to economic cooperation, the regional state administration provides advantage and comprehensive assistance to those, which will develop innovation projects on introduction of advanced technologies. Due to this approach the large productions of woodworking, chemical and petrochemical, light branches of the industry were reconstructed. Today the trade marks of following companies as Lukor, Interplyt, Tykaferlyuks and Vinisin became the well-known beyond Ukrainian boundaries and make great payment in the increase of investment attractiveness of the region.

The Joint Venture "Interplyt" became the leader of the Ukrainian woodworking industry and supplies the wide assortment of high-quality laminboards and wood-shaving boards, which meet the hygienical class Е1 to the national market and  19 countries of the world. The volume of its sold production has been increased from 5,8 million hryvna in 1998 to 134.4 million hryvna in 2002.

The LLC "Uniplyt" increases the production of wood fibre boards and their export. The Joint Venture "Promin-Galychyna", not limited by production of high-quality furniture of modern design, which successfully competes with foreign, in cooperation with foreign investor introduces the import line on output of woodworking wares. The furniture of high quality is produced by the Joint Venture "Komeks" as well as high-quality furniture for educational establishments by the Kolomiya Experimental Factory "Prut".

The enterprises on production of wood and wood wares in January-April, 2003 made the production by 30.7% bigger than for the same period of last year. The volumes of sawing and dub productions have been increased by 17.6% as well as output of saw-timbers by 34.7%, wood fibre and wood shaving boards by 24.5 and 28.5%, glued plywood by 8.1 times.

The Factory "Kuvert-Ukraine", jointly established with participation of the Concern "Mauer-Kuvert-Network", became the biggest producer of envelopes in Ukraine.

The output of production of enterprises of light industry by results of January-April, 2003 has been increased by 27.5%, including textile by 59.8%, production of ready-made clothes and fur by 17.3% and leather by 21.0%.

The production of goods of stock-raising in the region is concentrated in the individual companies, which breed from 90 to 99% of total number of livestock of different  cattle. At the same time the good results were provided by investments in reconstruction on new technological base of large stock-raising complexes. One of them is the LLC "Rosan-Agro", which sold the stock-raising and food products to the amount of 5.1 million hryvna in 2002.

By participation of investors from 34 countries of the world more than 400 joint ventures have been established in the region. The volume of direct foreign investments in the regional economy has been increased by more than one and a half times in 2002 and made USD 75.8 million. The foreign companies invested the most capital in industrial enterprises (85.2%), including  light industry – 33.1%, production of wood and wood wares – 18.8%, extractive – 13.9% and cellulose-paper – 9.2%.

Due to the increase of economic potential and competitiveness of the region in the first quarter of 2003 the volume of commodities export exceeded the  volume by comparison with the same period of last year by 2.2 times and it is twice bigger than the import.

The unique recreation resources of the region provide great possibilities for development of tourism and sanatorium-resort making healthy. The following resorts as Yaremche, Tatariv, Sheshory, Vorokhta and Cherche are well-known in Ukraine for a long time. For providing of tourist industry with highly skilled specialists the Prykarpattia University named after Vasyl Stefanyk opened the Institute of Tourism. In mountains, pre-mountains and Dnister villages it is possible to acquaint itself with language, songs, way of life and traditions of Ukrainians from Opillia, Pokuttia, Gutsulshchyna and Boykivshchyna. The inheritors of legendary Opryshky, lived by leadership of Oleksa Dovbush, Marusyak, Boychuk, Bayurak, Shtola and Gryts Vartsaba, live and work on this land.

Welcome to Ivano-Frankivs’k Region! Here you will find friends and business partners, will be enriched with new unforgettable impressions, improve your health, take force and enthusiasm to life, labour and creation. The land, which brought up Stepan Bandera, Roman Ivanychuk and Stepan Pushyka, is always glad to meet guests and all, who comes with sincere intentions here.

Kharkiv Region is the main part of historical-cultural and geographical region of Sloboda Ukraine. The massive settling of this territory with Ukrainian Cossacks, villages and migrants from Russia started in ХVІІ century. It was from the name of their settlements – Sloboda that the name of the territory derived, the Slobozhanshchyna.

The area of Kharkiv Region is 31,4 thousand sq.m. The number of population is 2,95 million people. There are 27 administrative districts and 20 cities in the region, including the largest are Lozova, Izyum, Kupyansk and Chuguyiv and 1718 rural settlements.

Kharkiv Region is situated on the edge of steppe and forest-steppe natural zones. The forests here are mainly oak and pine. The fauna counts about 340 animal species. With the purpose to preserve the national natural wealth 132 sanctuaries and 42 natural reserves were created in the region.

The favourable climatic conditions, rich natural resources, and also comfortable geographical location on crossroads of Eastern Europe give the advantage to the region in the national trade. The highly developed and varied infrastructure strengthens the regional economic potential.

Kharkiv Region is the leading industrial, agricultural, scientific and cultural center of Ukraine. The share of the regional industrial production makes 5,9% of the Ukrainian industrial production volume. Here almost all industries are developing, including the key Ukrainian machine-building, instrument-making, fuel and energy and electrical engineering enterprises as well as agricultural and processing branches.

The powerful tractor building complex has been formed in the regional machine-building industry; the power engineering equipment is manufactured; the aircraft building, machine-tool construction, fuel industry, radio electronics, chemical, pharmaceutical, food and light industries are well developed.

In 2002 the regional industry manufactured the products to the amount of 10138,7 million hryvna that is higher by 5,0% by comparison with similar period of previous year.

In 2002 the growth of production volumes in 12 from 13 main types of economic activity has been achieved. The most growth rates were reached in production of other non-metal mineral wares (26,5%), in production of non power materials (15,2%), in cellulose-paper, printing and publishing business (13%), in chemical and petrochemical industry (10,7%), in production of wood and wood wares (8,1%), in metallurgy and metalworking (5,8%), in food industry and agricultural production processing (5,3%).

The structure of the regional industrial production did not test the significance changes in 2002. As well as before, the most share in production volume is covered by food industry (30,6%), fuel and energy complex (24,1%) and machine-building industry (24,9%).

Due to rich deposits of mineral resources (natural gas with 311 billion cube m of estimated resource; oil with 8 million tons of estimated resource; brown coal and anthracite coal fields; deposits of salt, clay, chalk, limestone and super pure glass sand) the region is the fuel and energy base of Ukraine.

The region manufactures 100% of steam turbines in Ukraine, almost two third of tractors, more than one half of bridge cranes, frictionless bearings, digitally controlled machine tools and big electric machines, 40% of the AC generators. There are as well in Kharkiv Region most Ukrainian enterprises on production of cement, roofing slate, facing ceramics, metallic tiles, reinforced concrete wares, bricks and many other construction materials. Due to it 300 thousand sq. m. of habitation is annually put into service in the region, including a half is individual building.

About one half of Ukrainian medicines are also produced in Kharkiv Region. The chemical industry of the region specializes on manufacturing of consumer goods made of plastic.

The regional enterprises of light industry produce sewing, textile, fur and leather clothes, carpets, leather goods and footwear. With introduction of new management forms over 4 thousand state enterprises of the region changed the ownership: these are enterprises of trade, public catering, household consumer services and motor transport as well as 66,5% of industrial, 83% of agricultural enterprises and 50% of construction organizations. The sector of the regional small business is quickly grown and today it comprises 15,1 thousand small enterprises.

The region provides home demands in bakery and pasta, meat and whole milk products. There is a significant export potential on confectionary, tinned milk, alcoholic beverage, oil and fat products and granulated sugar.

In 2002 the foreign companies invested USD 78,25 million in the regional economy that is higher by 1,6 times than in 2001. The most investments were made by Great Britain, USA, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany and Vietnam. USD 58,52 million (27,6%) of foreign investments were attracted in financial activity as well as USD 36,66 million (17,3%) in the food and processing of agricultural products.

The special regime of innovation activity on the territory of Kharkiv and special regime of innovation activity Technopark «Institute of Monocrystals» are the important mechanisms of rising an investment attractiveness of the region. For years of existence of the special regime of investment activity in Kharkiv the investment council approved 71 investment project with the total estimate cost of USD 317,3 million, including foreign investments make 17,9% (USD 56,8 million). The special regime of investment activity attracted investments of the enterprises-subjects to the amount of USD 59,6 million, including USD 18,1 million of foreign investments.

Kharkiv Region plays important role of Eastern Ukraine railway junction that connects six adjacent regions and provides transport communication with other countries. The significance is not lesser of the Kharkiv Airport as for connecting Kharkiv Region to the world; it obtained the international status in 1995. The international highways as Kyiv-Kharkiv-Rostov and Moscow-Simferopol pass through territory of the region. Every day the motor transport carries over 287 thousand passengers and 11 thousand tons of cargo.

The regional foreign trade turnover is extended. The mostly machines and equipment are exported for which the main customers are Russia and Byelorussia.

The basis of agricultural production in Kharkiv Region is over 700 market-oriented enterprises. Kharkiv Region is characterized by the high level of production of grain, sugar beet, sunflower, vegetables and potatoes as well as meat and dairy stock-raising. The scientific backup of agroindustrial complex involves 15 specialized scientific-research institutes and educational establishments.

Kharkiv Region is the Ukrainian leader in the sphere of education: over 400 thousand children attend preschool establishments, general schools and vocational schools; about 200 thousand students are studying in 70 state and 13 private higher educational establishments. Besides, over 6 thousand foreign students from 74 countries of the world get higher education in Kharkiv.

Kharkiv Region with the rich scientific inheritance has been already a long ago recognized in the world as Ukrainian scientific center. 217 scientific establishments function here; including 13 establishments belong to the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Over 34 thousand persons are employed in the regional scientific sphere. The Kharkiv scientists obtained the worldwide recognition in physics, astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, biology and electronics; they were the first in Europe to split atom and created the most powerful radio-telescope in the world.

400 medical establishments of state and private sectors with 11800 doctors and 27800 persons of medical staff working in them are involved in health protection of the regional population. The scientific researches in the sphere of medicine are conducted by the Center of Medicines and 12 medical scientific-research institutes.

The staff for establishments of health care is trained in Kharkiv State Medical University, National Pharmaceutical Academy of Ukraine, Kharkiv Postgraduate Medical Academy and 8 medical vocational schools.

The inhabitants of the region are able to maintain their health through regular fond of sport. 59 stadiums, 975 gymnasiums and 28 swimming pools function in Kharkiv Region.

Kharkiv Region is the Slobozhanshchyna culture center with rich traditions having deep historical roots. Such world-wide known figures as philosopher Grygory Skovoroda, writer Grygory Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, painter Illya Ryepin, producer Les Kurbas and architect Beketov lived and worked here. Today the culture admirers are welcome to theatres, regional philharmonic society, House of organ and chamber music, circus, museums and about 1000 libraries (including State Scientific Library named after V. Korolenko containing more than 6,5 million copies in its funds). The spirituality of Kharkiv Region is gradually revived. For years of Ukraine independence 23 temples were built in the region by support of local authorities; 30 are being built and about 20 temples and churches are being restored.

435 religious organizations of 27 confessions function in Kharkiv Region. They comprise 6 ecclesiastical chairs, 5 monasteries, 4 missions, 2 congregations, 2 theological seminaries and 418 religious communities. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the most numerous and most influential one in the region having celebrated the 200th anniversary of founding the Kharkiv diocesan office in 1999.

Kharkiv Region, where gifted and industrious people are living, loving their native land and preserve the history of their ancestors, makes a great contribution in development of independent Ukraine.

Kherson Region was established on March 30, 1944. Its territory is 28.5 thousand square m or 4.7% of the general territory of Ukraine. The number of population is 1150.9 thousand people, including urban – 693.6 thousand people and rural – 457.3 thousand people.

There are 18 administrative districts, 3 cities of regional submission and 658 settlements in the region.

Kherson Region is washed by the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. On the east it borders with Zaporizhzhya Region as well as north-west – Mykolayiv Region, north – Dnipropetrovs'k Region and south – Crimean Autonomous Republic. The state frontier with the length of 458 km passes on the region's territory including 350 km of the Black Sea and 108 km of the Sea of Azov. There are located four check points on the border such as air-port, river port, sea ports of Kherson and Skadovsk.

There are 211 enterprises in the region, where more than 246,7 thousand people are employed. The results of 2003 show positive structural tendencies in the dynamics of economic development of the region.

By comparison with 2002 the gross value added has been increased by 6% in 2003 on the whole, including industrial enterprises – 16%, trade – 27% and transport – on 20,9%. The incomes of population were increased by 4.1% as well as labour payment fund 15.7% and average size of pensions – 15.3%.

The industrial production volume was extended by 16.3% and makes 1677.4 million hryvna in the operating prices so the task of the programme has been overfulfiled by 12.8%. The increase of production volumes from 0.2 up to 80.3% was made by practically all branches of the industry.

10 districts and 3 cities worked with higher than production growth rate as well as following industries such as machine-building (38.3% against forecast 10.5%), oil-refining (17.1% against 1.1%) and power engineering (36.9% against 2%). The chemical and petrochemical, cellulose-paper and printing industries at the planned decline of production actually made the increase by 80.3 and 34.1% respectively.

The enterprises of transport complex executed the all forecast indexes of development in 2003 on the whole. As a result of increase of freight transportation volumes by the enterprises of this industry by almost 2 million tons (or 25.9%) the programme tasks on freight transportation were executed by 139.4%, including goods turnover – 159.8%. The railway transport exceeded the forecast volumes of freight transportation by 1.5 times as well as river – 5 times.

In 2003 the enterprises of communication sphere provided the steady development and implementation of prognosis indexes. The programme on leading of telephone density per 100 inhabitants to the level of 21.5 units has been executed by 100.9% as well as quantity of numbers per 100 families – 100.8%. In 2003 the volumes of communication services were extended by 17.6%, including to the population – 35.8 %. 4 telephone exchanges for 12.3 thousand numbers were put into operation. By the level of communication services Kherson Region takes 9th place in Ukraine.

The enterprises and organizations of housing-communal economy of the region provided services and executed works to the amount of 99.9 million hryvna in 2003. There was allocated money by 1.5 times higher than in 2002 for repair works. The very unfavourable weather-climatic conditions of 2003 conditioned the lowest harvest of cereals in the region that resulted in decreasing of gross production by almost 30%. 447.3 thousand ha of winter crops (more than 70% of sown areas) were died. The volume of losses exceeds 500 million hryvna.

But even at these circumstances in production of vegetables, fruit and water-melon in 2003 there was made the highest indexes for years of independence such as sunflower – 173.2 thousand tones (135% to the programme), vegetables – 437.3 thousand tons (102.1%), potato – 239.4 thousand tons (104.1%), grape – 28.3 thousand tons (102.9%), garden-stuffs and berries – 80.7 thousand tons (2.3 times).

As substantial reserve for overcoming of unfavourable weather factors in the region it is planned to fully involve potential of irrigation in the future. On the irrigated lands the cereals give harvest of 23.6 c/ha as well as vegetables – 150 c/ha, forage root crops – 480 c/ha and maize on silo – 286 c/ha. So, thanks to the drop irrigation the Farm "Tavria" of Kalanchak District got 616 c/ha of vegetables at general average harvest of 60,0 c/ha. In Kherson Region there was irrigated only 250.4 thousand ha (58.9%) from 423.5 thousand ha until now. It is necessary to replace 17% of the facility irrigation network and to renew 33.5% of flushing machines.

The reformation of agrarian sector is lasting. As of January 1, 2004 412 new agricultural farms functioned in the region. 2922 farms have 182,9 thousand ha of agricultural lands in the region. 145,6 thousand state acts on the right of land private property were issued or 71,1% of the total number of certificate proprietors. The shared lands in Kherson Regions make 1425,4 thousand ha. The average size of the land share is 6,9 ha. 209,3 thousand people obtained the land shares.

In connection with the increase of consumer demand the production of consumer goods has been activated in the region. The analysis confirms the tendency of saving of positive growth rates. So, in 2003 the output of consumer goods has been increased by 9.4% due to the increase of production of food and non food consumer groups of 4.2 and 55.7% respectively. Because of unfavourable weather conditions and increase of excise rate on wines strong it was not succeeded to get the level of the proper period of 2002 on beverage alcohol production (-18.9%).

The share of commodities of public consumption in the general production volume of industrial goods makes 49%. By this index Kherson Region takes 6th place in Ukraine.

The volume of consumer goods sale has been increased by 21%, in particular, agricultural production – 21,4%, including products of stock-raising – 28.6%. And here the sale of products of plant growing has been decreased by 6.4%.

For the last three years the average annual growth rate of retail commodity turnover made 13.2%. This tendency was saved in 2003. The commodity turnover of enterprises of retail trade and restaurant economy made 962.4 million hryvna in 2003 at the increase against the level of 2002 by 24.3%. The annual programme was executed by 130%.

In 2003 the enterprises and organizations of all forms of property due to different sources of financing mastered 435.9 million hryvna of investments in the fixed assets by previous data. By comparison with the proper period of 2002 the volume of investments was extended by 6.3%. The volumes of works, executed by building enterprises, by comparison with 2002 has been increased by 46.6% (140.0 million hryvna against 90,9 million hryvna in 2002).

Due to diversification of production Kherson Region gradually sweeps world markets. The commodity export makes USD 120,0 million and import – USD 62,3 million. The foreign trade operations are conducted with partners from 81 countries of the world. Their structure gets better thus. The production volumes of final consumption as machines, equipment, transport vehicles and devices were extended and make almost one fourth of total volume. It is the real confirmation of competitiveness of products of the regional enterprises and result of the use of measures directed on upgrading products and purposeful marketing activity. The personal interest by products of Kherson Region grows in the world. So, in 2003 first in the history Kherson Region supplied 100 tons of water-melons to Sweden. Besides, in 2004 the contracts on supply of egg-plants and pepper light-green are additionally concluded. The enterprises of vine making industry of the region supply products to Canada, Germany, Israel and Luxemburg. The canning products are exported to Baltic States and Russia, countries of Scandinavia, Europe and America.

For a year there were attracted USD 12,7 million of direct foreign investments in the regional economy and it is by 2 million hryvna higher than in 2002; mainly investments were directed to food industry, agriculture and trade.

The tendency to growth of number of small business entities (103,9% to the programme) has been kept in the region. The funds of small business support were established in Nova Kakhovka and Kherson. In December, 2003 the activity of the Regional Business Support Fund has started in the region. Today the registration chambers are operated in Kherson, Nova Kakhovka and Verhnyorogachyk, Velykooleksandrivka and Velykolepetykha districts. The expansion of taxation base provided the growth of tax incomes. In 2003 the aggregate regional budget by comparison with 2002 got the payments by 24.7% higher. In the state budget of Ukraine the growth made 24.2%. The decline of debt of wage payment made 14.8%. The activation of economic activity, increase of sizes of labour pensions and wages in budget and off-budget spheres positively influenced on the increase of money profits of population. The average monthly wage is expected by 22.9% higher than in 2002.

There are taken purposeful measures on timely payment of pensions. In 2003 the budget of the regional department of the Pension Fund of Ukraine got the personal funds by 104.8% higher than the planned task. By comparison with 2002 the incomes grew by 16.5%. It is consoling fact that in 2003 the death rate went down in the region. The permanent tendency to growth of birth-rate is kept. They infuse with a hope that the number of marriages has significantly increased and the divorce was by 0.3% less than in the previous year. The region has all grounds to take the leading positions.

Khmelnytsky Region is situated on the Right-Bank Ukraine, in the middle part of Volyn-Podil sublimity. It is the part of Ukrainian Podillya with its picturesque landscapes, fertile earths and hardworking people. No by chance more than one century age genius Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrayinka with love and genuine fascination wrote about that land: «Beautiful Ukraine, Podollya!» In the present boundaries Khmelnytsky Region has been existing since September 22, 1937, when Kamyanets-Podilskiy region was established. In 1941 the regional center was moved to Proskuriv, and the region was renamed into Khmelnytsky in 1954.

The territory of Khmelnytsky Region is 20.6 thousand square km. It is mainly forest-steppe, although the northern part of Khmelnytsky Region is the Polissya area. More than one million and four hundred thousand people live in the region. Khmelnytsky Region comprises 13 cities, 24 settlements of urban type and 1416 villages. Khmelnytsky land has rich history, varied vegetable and animal world, and unique landscapes, rocks, caves, lakes and natural-raw potential.

By supplies of water resources Khmelnytsky Region takes the sixth place in the country as well as it is third by variety of vegetable resources (after the Crimea and Carpathians).

The region has inexhaustible natural-raw riches. This is almost 400 deposits of various minerals and the main are follows as saponite clays, phosphorites, apatites, glauconite sands, granite, limestone, sand, gypsum, chalk, flint and, graphite. In Slavuta the workshop on production of saponite flour has been already commissioned. The saponites have the wide range of possible their use as natural admixtures at breeding of cattle; preservative of green forages; complex ameliorant for ground re-cultivation, polluted by radionuclide.

The supplies of mineral medical waters are very highly valued and there is its sufficiency in Khmelnytsky land. The local mineral water "Zbruchanska" got the great popularity. The scientific researches confirmed the financial viability for creation of the special economic zone "Resortopolis Tovtry" – the powerful industry of making healthy of people and international tourism. In the region they work on development of ways of effective use of powerful potential Resortopolis "Tovtry"; the recreation areas in the unique protected zone of the National Natural Park "Podil Tovtry" are mastered. It is powerful potential for creation of valuable resort area.

The agroindustrial complex is traditionally considered as one of the priority industries of Khmelnytsky Region. No secret that exactly Ukraine has 47% of the world black earths. There are much these fertile earths in Khmelnytsky Region. For the last several years of reforms the system of private agricultural enterprises has been created in villages of Khmelnytsky Region. It was mainly succeeded to save the production complexes and land areas. It provides the increase of gross production. The production of corn grows and the stock-raising is regenerated. All over the world the ecologically friendly products are valued most of all. In Khmelnytsky Region they are just the same. The meat and fruit, bread and milk produced in the region do not have chemicals and stimulators of growth used by foreign farmers often.

In Khmelnytsky Region there are many private processing facilities, which produce in particular, 97% of potato, 90% of fruit, 46% of meat and 56% of milk. The agricultural exhibitions "Agro-Podillya" became the traditional events for Khmelnytsky farmers. Exactly in these exhibitions the peasants with pleasure demonstrate their wonderful results of work.

Khmelnytsky land has the well-developed industrial complex. The greatest rates are made by enterprises of food industry. They increase production of goods, master new technologies, rise efficiency of labour and create new working places. The enterprises of the food industry provide the most shares of industrial products, almost 44%. The products of Khmelnytsky workers in the food industry are known not only in the region but also beyond its boundaries. Following enterprises are leaders such as JSC «Adams», Khmelnytsky Butter and Cheese Plant, Vinkovtsi Cheese-Making Plant and Shepetivka Meat Processing and Packing Plant. The great contribution to the regional economy is made by other industries. In particular, the power engineering complex provides over 28% of industrial production as well as machine-building and metal-working – 14%. The Khmelnytsky Nuclear Power Plant functions on the region's territory and its operating power unit has the capacity of 1000 MW. The works on completion of the second power unit are lasting. All of this is at the level of ecological safety. Among machine-building enterprises the Ukrelektroaparat Plant manufacturing high-quality products is marked by the stable activity as well as many other enterprises. The processes of production growth gain momentum for the last time and the new technologies are mastered at industrial enterprises.

The tourist resources of Khmelnytsky land are one of the powerful in Ukraine (after the Crimea and Carpathians). In the northern part of the region there is Polissya with its unique pine-woods. Exactly pine-woods and their ozone air did at one time the estate of grandees Sangushki in Slavutych region by the original Mecca for patients with tuberculosis. The elite of the Russian empire, Poland and Austria treated there. And the found supplies of radon waters enable to create creation of powerful resorts on their base.

Khmelnytsky Region has powerful recreation and balneology resources due to the presence of great number of sources of high-quality mineral water. The mineral water "Zbruchanska" (like as Truskavets "Naftusya") gave possibility to found resorts "Sataniv" and "Makiv" and the like. In fact the Zbruchansky deposit of mineral water is the biggest one in Europe. The people with the problems of digestion organs are making healthy here due to the use of this water as well as radio-active isotopes are brought out from the human organism.

There are almost 270 territories and objects of reserves in Khmelnytsky land. The National Natural Park "Podil Tovtry", where due to general efforts of many Podil inhabitants 60 species of plants, 80 kinds of insects, birds and animals were put to the Red Book of Ukraine, is the invaluable its treasure. On the territory of this park the "Atlantis", one of the most beautiful spouting horns is placed also.

The history of Khmelnytsky land has a lot of glorious pages. One of the most interesting cities of not only Khmelnytsky Region but also Ukraine and Europe is ancient Kamyanets-Podilsky city named by the pearl on stone. Its architecture saved the samples of cultures of many people, whose are living here: Ukrainians, Jewries and Armenians. And also there are many religions here such as orthodox, catholic, Judaic and moslem.

The center of world cultural inheritance UNESCO has registered the statement of Kamyanets-Podilsky city about inclusion of this Old city to the list of inheritance of world culture. Lately by joint efforts of local community and city authorities there was done much for the sake of creation of modern tourist infrastructure. Conducting of annual holidays and festivals assists in popularity of ancient Kamyanets as tourist center, in particular, Cossack Zabavy and International Festival of National Cultures. The tourists from the whole world will be interesting to visit also Trypillya settlement in Lutsa-Brublevska, Medzhubizka fortress, ancient cities Izyaslav and Polonne. The Bakotsky rock monastery and grave of Hasidism founder Baal Shem Tova attract tourists.

The well-developed transport connection by railway and motor transport assists to development of tourism. In the near future it is planned construction of the speed-up highway "Western Europe-Kyiv" passing through Khmelnytsky land. Khmelnytsky land is the land of large prospects.

Khmelnytsky Region occupies leading positions in the Ukrainian educational space. The region did not inhibite curtailing the preschool establishment network but just the opposite way, increased their number. The region is the leader as for number of colleges, as for number of gymnasia has the third place and fifth for the number of lyceums. The National Academy of Frontier Troops named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Podillya Technological University, Khmelnytsky Institute of Regional Management and Law, Kamyanets-Podilsky Pedagogical University is pride of inhabitants of Khmelnytsky Region. The region has preserved the network of medical establishments and their personnel. The measures are taken to extend the medical and sanitary assistance based on the family medicine. They established in the region, among the first, the computer topography of the whole body and blood free operations on kidneys. The only in Ukraine State Rehabilitation Center of re-socialisation of drug-addicted youth is functioning in Khmelnytsky Region.

Khmelnytsky Region is intensively built and the special attention is paid to habitation for young families. In particular, the regional branch of the Fund for promotion of housing construction for youth is functioning in the region. In Khmelnytsky itself they opened among the first in Ukraine a Family House center working with women, children and families. The cultural life of Khmelnytsky land is rich. Not only in the region but far beyond the land the singing and dancing companies such as Podillya Cossacks, Honta, Horyn and Podolyanchyk are well-known. The musical bands of the Music and Drama Theatre and other artistic establishments renew their repertoire. The citizens of Khmelnytsky Region have great achievements in sport. The efforts of citizens of Khmelnytsky Region are directed on prospect, search and creation of conditions assisting in progressive processes in all spheres of vital functions of the region.

Kirovograd Region is situated in the centre of Ukraine, in the interfluve between the Dnieper and South Buh rivers. It confidently became on the way of dynamic economic and social development. The regional industrial complex, where 292 enterprises operate, comprises 10 leading industries.

The region is represented by production of sowing, soil cultivation and harvesting machines, bridge electric cranes, mining briquettes, nickel, graphite, mountain beeswax, sewing wares, and also wide range of products of food industry as sausages and smoked delicacies, groats flakes and muesli, sunflower oil, alcoholic products and others on the commodity market of Ukraine.

The extractive industry of the region is represented by the State Holding Company "Oleksandriyavugillya" (extraction and processing of brown coal is the main type of its activity) and two unique complexes on extraction and production of nickel and graphite: these are the Liability Limited Company "Pobuzke Ferronickel Plant", Joint-Stock Company "Zavallivsk Graphite Integrated Works" and branch of the National Center for Atomic Energy Development.

In the structure of processing industry with the share of 69% in the general production volumes, the share of machine-building industry makes 22.1% as well as food industry – 33.9% and construction materials industry – 5.3%.

The Kirovohrad Regional State Administration puts great efforts to rise a regional role as powerful center of agricultural machine-building industry at the head with the leader – the JSC "Chervona Zirka" . This is a one of the oldest enterprises of Ukraine, which is specialized on production of different types of sowing machines such as grain, maize, vegetable, cultivators and stack rackers, loaders and its spare parts. The enterprise produces consumer goods also.

The Concern "Lan", which incorporates scientific and production potentials of the region, extends its activity wider. It has mastered the production of combine harvesters. The Oleksandriya Joint-Stock Company "Plant "Avtoshtamp" manufactures grain reaping-machines.

The JSC "Hydrosila" has the modern highly productive equipment for production of gear pumps and axial piston motors and co-operates with the scientific and technical institutes of Ukraine and countries of CIS. Today the products of the enterprise are exploited in composition of different machines in more than 50 countries of the world.

The magnetic starters and electronic boards of the Oleksandriya JSC "SPA" Etal» has recommended itself at industrial enterprises of countries of CIS as well as lifting cranes of the JSC "Vira-Service" and other products of enterprises of the regional machine-building complex.

The metallurgical industry is good represented by the unique enterprise – the Svitlovodsk Government-Run Integrated Works of Hard Alloys and Refractory Metals as well as the chemical industry by the JSC "Chysti Metaly", which is specialized on production of semiconductor materials. They supply home products to the countries of the CIS and foreign countries. The food industry is the highly developed sphere in the region and the meat, oil and fat, milk and grain processing industries prevail in its structure. The Joint-Stock Company "Kirovohrad Poultry Processing Plant" is the leader among the enterprises of meat processing industry of Ukraine providing more than 150 names of products. This is the enterprise with progressive technology of production of sausages and smoked delicacies, which are in great consumer demand in many regions of Ukraine.

The Subsidiary Company "Novoukrayinskiy Bread-Backing Plant" of the SJSC "Khlib of Ukraine" is the unique Ukrainian enterprise, which produces dry breakfasts, flakes and muesli. The products of the enterprise are known and loved not only in Ukraine but also beyond its boundaries.

The economy of Kirovohrad Region gets more social orientation and the production of commodities of public consumption grows by passing ahead rates. In the structure of commodities of public consumption, produced by the regional enterprises, the food stuffs make 77.5% as well as non food – 16.9%; wine and alcoholic products – 5.6%. The food industry of the region provides the demands of population with such basic food stuffs as sugar, flour, groats, macaroni and confectionary, bread and backing products, butter, products of dairy and meat industry. In the structure of production of non food stuffs the light industry covers 33.8%. The enterprises of the region produce sewing and stocking-socks wares, soft and corps furniture, complex household appliances, gardening inventory, medical wares, china and glass crockery, chemical detergents and others.

The steppe Kirovohrad Region is the large manufacturer of agricultural production and food stuffs. The region produces 4.3% of agricultural gross production, including 5.3% of plant-growing products, provides about 10% of the general sunflower production in the country, almost 7% of food and feed-stuff corn, more than 5% of sugar beets, 3% of meat and dairy products. The production of rape, soy and other untraditional crops is mastered.

The basis of the regional stock-raising is breeding of cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry. There are two stud farms and 5 pedigree farms in the region, which produce the horse of thoroughbred saddle and Ukrainian saddle breeds.

The small business of the region is dynamically developed and gets the large value. The share of small enterprises in total number of the regional enterprises makes 83.7% as well as in the volume of the finished products and executed works and services – 13.6%, in the volume of sold products – 14.3%, number of workers – 20.5%, in the volume of gross investments in the fixed capital – 18.2%. About 41 thousand small business entities function in the region. The support of the regional small business is carried out in accordance with the measures foreseen by the Regional Programme of Small Business Development for 2003-2004.

With the purpose of creation of favourable conditions for development of entrepreneurial activity in the region the network of Centers for Business Development Support has been created. There are the first results of it activity – the skilled organizational and legal assistance is granted to the businessmen; the system of financial support has been formed; the thematic seminars, conferences and meetings are conducted; firstly in almost all cities and districts the budgetary funds for business support were allocated.

Kirovohrad Region has positive changes in investment-construction activity. The volume of investments in the fixed capital made 184,4 million hryvna for January-June, 2003 and grew in comparison with the first half-year of the last year by 29.5%. It is important that almost 50% of the general volume of investments is directed on updating and modernization of active part of production funds. The region became the more attractive for foreign investors too. From the beginning of the year the general volume of direct foreign investments in regional development made USD 43.8 million and that is by more than 8.1% higher as of July 1, 2002.

The foreign trade turnover of commodities makes USD 61.4 million that is by more than 34.4% higher than for the first half-year of the previous year. The region substantially increased the export potential. The commodities are exported to 48 countries of the world. The majority of commodities is exported to the Russian Federation (46%). The mechanical and electric equipment (40.8% of the general volume), products of vegetable origin (9.4%), living animals and products of stock-raising (10.9%) prevail in the commodity structure of export. Kirovohrad Region has the powerful scientific and technical potential. The developments on major directions of scientific and technical progress are conducted in 17 establishments and organizations. Among them there are the Kirovohrad State Technical University, Kirovohrad State Pedagogical University named after Volodymyr Vynnychenko and Kirovohrad State Agricultural Experimental Station.

The Kirovohrad Regional State Administration studies strategic purposes and tasks in spheres of material production not as an end in itself, but as effective mean of rising a standard of living of population, overcoming of poverty and creation of economic pre-conditions for solution of sharp social problems. The inhabitants of Kirovohrad Region confidently look forward. The central region of Ukraine is to become the most attractive investment region of our country for the medium-term period. There are about 30 kinds of mineral resources in the regional deposits; its extraction and processing promise to give a high income. The economic calculations show that the powerful potential of Kirovohrad black earths creates advantageous pre-conditions for development of present food industry.

Kirovohrad Region, taking into account motion of Ukraine into the European Community, has all chances to become one of the main suppliers of high-quality and mainly ecologically friendly products of feed on the foreign market. The skilled specialists and industrial potential, favourable geographical location are to bring our Ukrainian steppe pearl to the number of the most perspective regions of Ukraine.

Kyiv land is streched in the centre of Ukraine, on both picturesque banks of the mighty Dnieper River. The archaeological sights of Trypillya, Chernyakhiv, Lebedivska and Sofiyivska cultures testify to ancient history of this land and the settlements of the region gave the proper names to them.

In the first millennium of AD the core of Polyany tribe populated the middle flow of the Dnieper River between the Ros and Irpen rivers was formed on the territory of present Kyiv land. Other Slavic tribes were united round it. The process was completed by formation of the Kyiv Rus State with the center in Kyiv, which was legally named "by the mother of Russian towns". The development way of Kyiv and Kyiv Region was the thorny.

Kyiv Region was established in 1932. Its territory is 28.4 thousand square km (4.7% of the total Ukrainian area). The number of population is 1810,5 thousand people (3.7% of the total number of Ukraine). The urban population makes 58.9% as well as rural – 41.1% of the total number. Kyiv Region borders with Zhytomyr, Vinnytsya, Cherkasy, Poltava and Chernihiv regions, and also with Gomel Region of the Republic Byelorussia. Kyiv Region comprises 25 districts and 24 cities, including 11 cities of regional submission, 30 settlements and 1220 villages.

The landscape of Kyiv land is mainly flat. The northern part of the region lies within the Polissya lowland as well as south-western, western and center – within the Dnieper sublimity and eastern (left-bank) – the Dnieper lowland. The ravines and beams are crossed in southern part of the region's territory. Kyiv Region lies within the areas of mixed forests and forest-steppe. The ground is mainly chernozem-meadow and forestry-loamy (over 60% – agricultural lands). The climate is moderately continental and soft with sufficient humidity. The middle temperature of January is -6 °С and July +19°С. The annual amount of precipitations makes 570-610 mm.

The bowels of Kyiv land are rich in minerals. Following minerals are extracted in Kyiv land such as peat, brown coal, sand for production of glass, limestone, brick and tile clay, granite and gneiss. There is the amber in Kyiv land.

Kyiv Region enters  the top ten highly developed industrial regions of Ukraine. Taking into account the features of placing of productive forces on the region's territory there are three economic sub-districts such as Polissya, Kyiv suburban and South Forest-Steppe.

The machine-building and metal-working, food, electroenergy, light, chemical and petrochemical, woodworking, cellulose-paper and construction materials are leading branches of the industry in Kyiv Region. The enterprises of the regional machine-building are specialized on production and repair of machines for agriculture, in particular for stock-raising and fodder-production, chemical equipment, excavators, melioration machines, equipment for food industry, household and other appliances (household lamps, refrigerators, electrical engineering and heating devices, air conditioners and others).

The basis of the regional industrial potential is made by almost four hundred large and medium enterprises; following leading enterprises have the national value such as Trypillya TPP, Brovary Works of Powder Metallurgy, largest in Europe the Kyiv Cardboard-Paper Integrated Works (Obukhiv), and also well-known beyond Ukrainian boundaries the manufacturer of tires – the Joint-Stock Company "Rosava" (Bila Tserkva) as well as the manufacturer of excavators – the Joint-Stock Company "Boreks" (Borodyanka settlement), chemical equipment – JSC "Chervony Zhovten" (Fastiv) and the like.

The enterprises of the region take strong positions in Ukraine on production of food stuffs. The JSC "Yagotyn Creamery" is the leader on production of high-quality dairy products as well as on production of meat-sausage products – the JSC "Kyiv Meat Processing and Packing Plant" in Vishnevy and LLC "Ideks" (Yagotyn).

The intensive construction is lasting in Kyiv Region now: both housing and industrial. The important role in this process is played by the construction complex incorporating more than 300 building organizations and enterprises of construction industry.

Kyiv Region has highly developed agricultural production. There are more than 2000 agricultural enterprises including peasant (farm) in Kyiv Region. The area of agricultural lands (by all categories of facilities) makes 1675.9 thousand ha, or 4% of the total Ukrainian lands. In the structure of agricultural lands the plough-land occupies 81.6% as well as pastures – 8.1%, hayfields – 6.9%, perennial plantations – 2.4% and fallow lands – 1.0%.

The leading role in plant growing is played by cereals and fodders crops. The peasants of Kyiv Region grow wheat, maize, sugar beets and potatoes. The vegetable-growing (including closed ground), stock-raising that is specialized on production of milk, meat and eggs are intensively developed.

The practice of management activity of last years confirms the expedience of incorporating of facilities in the most effective organizational structures. These structures are follows as Agricultural Farm "Ros" of Bila Tserkva District, "Svitanok" of Vasylkiv District, State Stock-Rising Plant "Ploskivsky" of Brovary District and Agricultural Complex "Pushcha-Vodytsya". These facilities have the high indexes of productivity of cereals (50-60 c/ha), sugar beets (650-720 c/ha) and milk (6020 kg per cow).

Kyiv Region is the motherland of fundamental scientific researches. The world recognition was won by selection developments of the Myronivka Scientific-Research Institute of Selection and Seeding of Wheat named after V. M. Remesla. Following sorts of wheat as Myronivska 264, Myronivska 808, Myronivska Anniversary and Mriya-1 are well-known abroad.

The scientific bases of intensification of technologies of gardening, berry-growing, seedling, saving and processing of fruit and berry products, selection of fruit and berry crops with application of traditional methods and modern properties of the applied genetics and gene engineering are developed by the Institute of Gardening of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences. The winter-proof, not affecting by scab sorts of pears (Etude, Striyska and Christian), apple-trees of intensive type (Askold and Teremok), apple-trees of column forms (Vertical and Tantsivnytsya), new sorts of blackberry with complex oligogenic firmness to illnesses and wreckers deserve the special attention.

The Institute of Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture develops novelties and put it into operation.

The Institute of Potato-Growing of the Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences is the leading establishment of scientific-methodical center on problems of potato-growing in Ukraine. Kyiv Region has the dense network of railways and motor-car ways with the length of 800 and 8200 km respectively. The region has railway communication with all regions of Ukraine and countries of CIS. The international expresses in all countries of Eastern Europe, and also motorways of international value pass through its territory such as Lviv-Kharkiv, Lviv-Moscow, Saint Petersburg-Odessa and others.

The biggest air gate of Ukraine is located in Kyiv Region also. The Airport Borispol provides regular flights in more than 30 countries of the world and takes aircrafts of 25 foreign airlines. Except for this air-port, there are two air fields in the region, which can take cargo transport aircrafts.

The main gas pipeline "Siberia-Western Europe" passes through Kyiv Region, therefore the dense network of gas pipelines was created in the region. Besides, many fuel pipelines (petrol and duel diesel) are laid through territory of Kyiv Region.

The regional subjects of management activity perform active foreign economic operation with partners from 99 countries of the world. The enterprises and organizations of the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Germany, Great Britain, Turkey and Byelorussia are the most exporters of Kyiv Region production. The tires for cars and agricultural equipment, rubber wares, cardboard and paper, commodities of light industry, production of machine-building, production of food and processing industry, wares from metal and other  goods make commodity structure of export deliveries.

The most investments in the regional economy were made by investors from Netherlands (71.3% of the general volume of investments), Great Britain, USA and Germany. Following industries of the regional economy as food industry, domestic trade, chemical and petrochemical industry, medical industry, machine-building and metal-working industry, agriculture, other industries and spheres of activity have the special interest for investors. Kyiv Region has great cultural-art potential, in particular, the Kyiv Regional Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre named after Panas Saksaganskiy is located in Bila Tserkva. Kyiv Region is rich in museums. The most known are follows as Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky, Monument-Museum of Kyiv Liberation with the Diorama "Battle for Kyiv. Lyutizh Bridgehead. 1943" (Novi Petrivtsi, Vyshhorod District) and many others.

Kyiv land since ancient times is famous by works of decorative-trade art, created by talented masters. There are famous names of Catherine Bilokur in the world, Maria Pryymachenko, Hanna Veres and Ivan Prykhodka.

The Park "Oleksandria" in Bila Tserkva is the prominent sight of landscape-gardening architecture of Ukraine and the Park in Kagarlyk – the sight of middle of the ХІХ century deserves special attention.

The hardworking and talented people create glory of the region and Ukraine for many centuries.

Luhans'k Region appeared on the map of Ukraine in 1938 as a result of division of Donetsk Region into two regions as Stalin and Voroshylovograd. Today Luhans’k Region enters the top five highly developed industrial-economic regions of Ukraine. There is concentrated 5.4% of general fixed assets of Ukraine and 4.5% of labour resources in the region.

The area of Luhans’k Region is 26.7 thousand square km. The number of population is 2524.9 thousand people.

The bowels of Luhans’k Region are rich. Its supplies of high-quality anthracites and coke coal are calculated by billion tons. Exactly the history of the Donetsk coal basin began from here: at the beginning of XVII century its first coal deposits were opened there. Soon in basin of the rivers of Bila and Luhan the landowners and peasants obtain fuel for themselves by the open method, and in 1795 in the zone of Lysychansk city the industrial development of coal for the Luhans’k Iron Foundry began for the first time in Donbass.

The extractive industry makes almost one fourth of production volume of industrial goods in the region. The coal enterprises prevail among extractive enterprises. The coal complex of the region comprises 200 enterprises, including 58 mines incorporated in 8 state coal mining holding companies and State Enterprise "Luhans’kvuglebudrestrukturyzatsiya" as well as 22 concentrating factories. The total production capacity of mines makes almost 28 million tons of coal per year as well as concentrating factories – 50 million tons. The measures on realization of the government programme "Ukrainian Coal" are taken. The exploited supplies of anthracite coal will be sufficient for 200 years by calculations of specialists.

Luhans’k Region has another home energy source – the natural gas and its extraction has been recently started. There are only 10 gas condensate deposits here. Five new mining holes were put into operation in 2002 that promoted the extraction of 333,4 million cube m and the extraction growth by comparison with 2001 made 16.0%. This sphere is perspective and attractive for entrepreneurial activity and investing. There are four basic enterprises on production of electric power in Luhans’k Region, which enter the Ukrainian grid such as Luhans’k TPP, LLC "Luhans’k Power Association", SE "Syevyerodonetsk TPP" and SE "Lysychansk TPP". In 2002 they produced 4116 million kW of electric power and 12635.3 thousand Gcal of thermal power.

One fifth part of general volume of industrial products is produced by the oil refining industry, which is represented by the JSC "Lysychansknaftoorgsyntez". In 2002 they produced the commercial products to the amount of 2731.2 million hryvna or 111.7% to the volume of 2001.

The enterprises of chemical and petrochemical industry of the region produced the commercial products to the amount more than 1 billion hryvna in 2002. In particular, the Syevyerodonetsk State Production Enterprise «Association «Azot» produces the wide range of chemical products (almost 70% of branch products) such as synthetic ammonia, ammoniac saltpetre, carbamide, vinegar and adipinic acids, acetylene, methanol, polyethylene tape, plastics wares and chemical detergents in the shallow packing. The products of the enterprise successfully compete on internal and external markets and repeatedly won prizes in the international exhibitions. In the JSC «Barvnyk» the investor (Logrus-Chemical Corporation) executes works on commission of maximal number of workshops pursuant to the plan of enterprise rehabilitation. In 2002 by comparison with 2001 the production volume of commercial goods has been increased twice. The basic products are dyes, pigments, varnishes, plasticizers, betanolor, chemical facilities of plant protection and chemical detergents.

The LLC "Lysychansk Industrial Rubber Plant" produces the conveyor rubber-fabric ribbon, form and non form industrial rubber wares, wedge passes, sleeve and plans in the future to increase the output of the basic products – the conveyor ribbon by 5 times. The measures on decline of unit cost are taken in the enterprise.

The enterprises of metallurgical industry provide almost one fifth part of general commercial products of the industry and the production volumes are annually increased. In 2002 the growth rates of commercial production made 113.8%. The JSC "Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works" is well-known in Ukraine and beyond its boundaries by its products (cast-iron and steel casting, rolling).

The Lutugyn State Scientific-Production Fulling Integrated Works, which annually provides the increase of industrial production volumes is stably functioning. The development of new technology of production of fulling of various standard sizes has been completed.

The JSC "Luhans’k Pipe Plant" extends the range of pipes and organizes production of profile pipes; the production of precision pipes of all standard sizes is planned.

One of the perspective industries of regional economy is the machine-building. Beginning from 2000 the production volumes of commercial goods is increased. In 2002 the products to the amount of 848.6 million hryvna (growth rate to 2001 – 122.5%) has been made. The enterprises of the branch in 2002 mastered almost 70 new types of products and introduced 77 new technological processes, including 56 low-waste, non-waste and resource conservation processes; the technical retooling of enterprises has been conducted and the new objects were constructed.

The JSC "Pervomaysk Electromechanics Plant" produced the samples of new conveyor engines with water-cooling system (capacity from 110 to 200 kW), which have high energy mechanic parameters. The new combine engines for new coal combines were developed and manufactured; the samples of engines for cranes were manufactured.

The JSC "Stakhanov Car Building Plant" produced the experimental model of car with the increased volume of body for transportation of fertilizers. The JSC "Luhans’k Plant of Rescue Equipment "Horizon" mastered the mass production of the anesthesia preparation "Analgin"; hose respiratory vehicle, air insulating module vehicle, intended for individual protection of respiratory organs and eyes from action of high-toxic aggressive environment; anesthesia preparation intended for reduction of attacks of asthmatic character.

The enterprises of light industry of the region produced the commercial goods to the amount of 59.8 million hryvna in 2002 that makes 90% to the level of 2001. In 2002 following enterprises worked with positive results such as JSC «Tekstylelastotekhnika», JSC "Lutri Firm", JSC "Stakhanov Sewing Factory", CE "Starobil Sewing Factory" and JSC "Alchevskspetsodyagservis".

In 2002 the SE "Luhans’kleginvest" got 9.84 million hryvna of budgetary money and the development of investment projects on technological reconstruction of seven enterprises of light industry was completed at expense of these facilities; 273 new working places were created and 122 people were employed. On the whole since 1996 the company got 53.54 million hryvna; 1087 new working places were created and 1940 people were employed.

The infrastructure of the regional agrarian market is improved. Since 1998 the agroindustrial stock commodity exchange functions successfully and the agro-trading houses were created in all districts. The growth of agricultural gross production made 6.0% (harvest of cereals – 1024.7 thousand tons, sunflower – 222.2 thousand tons and vegetables -175 thousand ton). There are positive changes in the stock-raising. On January 1, 2003 in all categories of farms the total number of cattle has been increased by 7.2% by comparison with the proper date of 2001 as well as pigs – by 25.6%, sheep and goats – by 11.3%, poultry – 13.1%, but the total number of cows has been decreased by 2.6%.

The increase of total number of cattle and poultry conditioned the growth of production of basic types of stock-raising products. In 2002 firstly for the last six years the increase of production of meat of cattle and poultry made 27.0% in all categories of farms. The production of milk has been increased by 10.1% as well as eggs by 26.6%.

The construction complex of Luhans’k Region is 336 main construction organizations and 37 enterprises of construction industry of different forms of property and 850 enterprises of small business of construction type with the number of workers almost 40 thousand people.

In accordance with the Programme of improvement of water-supply of settlements in Luhans’k Region for 2001-2005, the construction of Molodogvardiysk-Sverdlovsk water-supply system with the length of 34.7 km is carried out.

Due to realization of the Programme of gasification of rural settlements the level of their gasification has been increased from 13.6 to 37.2%. For 2001-2002 almost 500 km of gas networks was built; more than 8 thousand buildings and flats were installed gas. 27 villages of the region were firstly provided with gas supplying. Luhans’k Region has railway communication with 14 regions of Ukraine and 6 regions of Russia as well as motor transport with 6 regions of Ukraine and 5 regions of Russia. The motor transport enterprises executing passenger transportations are practically in all cities and districts of the region. The regional bus fleet makes 1506 units. The substantial price-decline on aviation transportation (by 19.9%) promoted the increase of passenger transportation by air transport (2.5 times) as well as cargo transportation by 9.5%.

Today the region develops the economic potential in close collaboration with many regions of CIS and foreign countries. The trade-economic and humanitarian relations with more than 90 countries of the world are supported.

Luhans’k Region is the land of talented and many-sided gifted persons, which revive spirituality of their glorious land and consequently Ukraine.

An anti-terrorist operation is being conducted on the territory of the separate Luhansk region oblasts as to address the terrorist threat and contaion the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Lviv Region is situated in south-western outskirts of the East-European plain and western part of the Northern macroslope of the Ukrainian Carpathians. There are five natural districts on its territory such as mountain Carpathians on the south, adjoining to it Pre-Carpathians sublimity, Podil plateau in the central part, and Small Polissya and Volyn sublimity in the north. The main European watershed between the basins of the Baltic and Black seas passes through territory of the region.

Lviv Region borders with five regions of Ukraine and Republic Poland. The area of Lviv Region is 21.8 thousand square km or 3.6% of general territory of Ukraine. The number of population is 2.611 million people, including 59.5% is in cities and 40.5% in villages.

Lviv Region is rich in minerals as anthracite coal, natural gas, oil, sulphur, peat, ozokerite, kitchen and potassium salts, raw material for production of cement, limestones and slates, marl, building and fire-clays and others. The special riches are the large supplies of medical mineral waters and on their base the famous Ukrainian resorts are functioning.

Lviv Region is highly-developed industrial region of Ukraine. The food industry and processing of agricultural raw material, machine-building, chemical and petrochemical, cellulose-paper, printing industry and publishing business are the leading spheres of the regional industry. In the region there are manufactured 100% of state volumes of newsprint paper, dolites and autoloaders, more than 98% of lighting electric lamps, almost 80% of motor-car cranes and more than 27% of buses.

The production of industrial goods in majority of industries is increased every year. The comparison of results of the first half-year of 2003 with the results of the proper period of last year testifies to it. The enterprises of the light industry extended the production volume by 6%. The JV "Vesna", JSC "Mayak", JCS "Sewing Enterprise "Svitanok", JSC "Sewing Factory "Stritex", JSC "Drogobych Sewing Enterprise "Zorya" and JV "Laura" increased their production indexes. The production growth of linen fabrics made 22.6% as well as legwear by 28.8%, linen knitted fabric by 8.6% and the like.

The enterprises of wood working and wood wares increased the production of goods by 1.6 times. In particular, the production of wood shaving plates has been increased by 2.2 times. The JV "Krono-Lviv" (growth by 4.4 times) and LLC "Euroshpon" (growth by 41.8%) are leaders among this group of enterprises. The production of saw-timbers has been increased by 3.4% as well as parquet – by 23.3%.

The production volumes of cellulose-paper, printing industry and publishing business have been increased by 17.5%. The Zhydachiv Cellulose-Paper Works "Dunapack-Ukraine" LLC and Plant of Paper-Cardboard Goods "Biblos" JSC extended their production volumes. In particular, the production of copybooks has been increased by more than 9 times as well as cardboard by 39.7% and paper by 4%.

The enterprises on production of oil-refining products made the growth of manufacturing volumes of 5.1% as well as chemical and petrochemical industry – 9.6% and machine-building – 8.5%. For example, the Striy Railway-Car Repair Works extended the production volumes by 96.5% as well as JSC "LAZ" by 43.1% and JSC "Avtonavantazhuvach" by 82.4%. There was produced more cement (growth of 20.3%), ceramic tile for facing of walls and floors (3.5 and 17.8% respectively) and the like. The production and distributing of electric power, water and gas has been increased by 11.7%. In some industries the reduction of production volumes is explained by not decline, but updating. So, there were produced less consumer goods, because the enterprises of this industry substituted their technology and range by the initiative of it proprietors. For the first half-year of 2003 the regional industrial enterprises mastered 1028 names of new products and the growth made 2.2% by comparison with the proper period of 2002.

Lviv Region is the land with favourable factors for development of modern agrarian production. The natural conditions with moderate continental climate assist to development of field-crop cultivation (most lands (almost 800 thousand items with more than 1.27 million hectares is covered by plough-land), milk and meat cattle breeding, forestry, beekeeping and the like.

For the first half of 2003 the construction enterprises of all forms of property executed the contract works to the amount of 349 million hryvna that is by 25.9% higher than for the proper period of previous year.

Lviv Region has the well-developed transport network. The international railways to the capitals of many European countries such as Belgrade, Bratislava, Budapest, Buharest, Warsaw, Moscow, Prague and Sophia pass through its territory. The motor roads connect the settlements of the region with Central and Southern Europe, Baltic States and Russia. In January-June, 2003 the transport enterprises of Lviv Region carried 13,8 million tons of freight that is by 22.2% higher than for January-June, 2002. The railway carried 12.3 million tons of freight that is by 28.5% higher than for the previous year. The volume of the supplied ferrous metals has been extended twice as well as oil and oil products by 1,9 times, chemical and mineral fertilizers by 49.4% and cement by 29.9%. The motor transport enterprises in January-June, 2003 carried 1,5 million tons of freight that is by 12.3% less than in January-June, 2002. The goods turnover is by 18.1% less than in January-June, 2002. The aviation enterprises increased the volume of the transported freight by 11%, but the goods turnover has been decreased by 14.8%.

The enterprises of Lviv Region have the good business contacts with almost one hundred countries of the world. In particular, in the regional trade structure (in January-May, 2003 with 67 countries against 65 for the proper period of last year) the main partners of the region are Russia, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Great Britain, Italy and Denmark. By data of the State Custom Service of Ukraine, the regional foreign trade turnover for the first half of 2003 made USD 1231,3 million that exceeds the proper index of 2002 by more than three times. The major articles of export are textile, transport vehicles, industrial equipment and devices, wood and wood wares, commodities of light industry and products of agroindustrial complex.

From the beginning of process of privatization 8565 enterprises changed their form of property, including 7495 objects of so called small privatization, 482 objects of large privatization, 263 objects of non completed construction in the region and the like. By the number of privatised enterprises of municipal form of property Lviv Region takes the first place in Ukraine as well as second place among regions by the general number of privatised objects.

One of activities of the regional executive authorities is improving business activity of small entrepreneurship. There was developed and accepted the proper regional programme and programmes of city and district councils for 2003-2004. The simplified procedure of registration of own business has been introduced, in particular, so called «one office» was opened in all districts and cities of the region. This is an office, where full complex of necessary documents is registered. The unemployed people are widely attracted to the business activity. The information-reference boards are placed in every base center of employment and for starting business activity the unemployed people of Lviv Region obtained the help to the amount of 430 thousand hryvna; the seminars are conducted for them; the studies of bases of new professions are organized. In the first half-year of 2003 this course of studies was passed by more than 2000 persons. For the same period more than 7000 subjects of business activity were registered.

For the first half of 2003 Lviv Region directed 1028.9 million hryvna to the Aggregate and State budgets that is by 18.7% higher by comparison with the proper period of 2002 and even with the forecast sum. The arrears of payments to the budget as of July 1, 2003 appeared low by comparison with beginning of the year by 5.6%.

Lviv is the prominent center of education, fundamental and branch sciences. Here the Western center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is placed and it co-ordinates the research activity of surrounding regions. Besides, there are many higher educational establishments, including the Ivan Franko University, founded in 1661 and conservatory in Lviv and others.

The most Ukrainian network of establishments of culture and art has been historically formed in the region. There are only 12 unique museums with the collections of works of fine art well-known all over the world in the regional center (15% of general museum fund exhibits of our country). The architecture of Lviv is impressed greatly, in particular, such pearls, as cathedral in the gothic style of XIV-XV centuries with the renaissance choirs of Boyim and Kampian, Saint George Cathedral, Three Prelates Chapel, so called Black Kamyanytsya in the Renaissance style and many temples. Lviv is one of those cities of Ukraine, where beginning from XV century the fraternities – the national-religious educational organizations with schools, collegiums and printing-houses were created. In the printing-house at the Lviv Fraternity famous Ivan Fedorov published the first Slavic "Alphabet" in 1574.

Variety of natural conditions, riches of resources and convenient geographical location on crossing of the European transport corridors creates pre-conditions for subsequent development of tourism and organization of rest. And the powerful economic, research and cultural potential, providing all spheres of social-economic and spiritual life with highly skilled specialists puts Lviv Region into the leading place in Ukraine.

The boundless fields of Pobuzhzhya and Ingul River region, green vineyards and wonderful flowering gardens under bottomless blue sky is Mykolayiv land.

The agriculture is the leading industry of the regional economy. Mykolayiv Region makes significance payment in strengthening of the country, producing almost seven percents of cereals and sunflower, three percents of gross milk production. The production of cereals and sunflower per capita in the region exceeds the proper indexes on average in Ukraine by three times as well as milk – 10 percents.

The positive tendencies are observed in production of vegetables, grape, sugar beets and others. The production of agricultural products (meat, milk and eggs) especially grows in the reformed agricultural enterprises, farms and individual facilities used 373 thousand ha of land or 19% of the total regional area. The number of facilities working profitable has been increased; the level of their profitability grows. The debt of wages to the rural workers has been almost fully settled.

Following fact testifies to successes in the agriculture that by the initiative of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine and Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences the ІХ International Scientific-Production Conference on actual problems of development of pig breeding was held in the region. Its participants highly valued the activities of regional facilities in this direction.

In the industrial complex of the region, without regard to great number of enterprises worked on the military complex of the former Soviet Union, practically without assistance of the government the conversion of production has been conducted. However the loss of military orders, financial and economic crisis has negatively affected on work of practically whole industrial complex of the region, foremost machine-building and shipbuilding industries.

Mykolayiv is the large center of shipbuilding of Ukraine, where main production, scientific and technical, professional and educational potential of the industry is concentrated. The shipbuilding industry provided about 60 thousand Mykolayiv citizens with work; in any case 60% of city inhabitants were employed here. Notably that the revival of the industry began from shipbuilding exactly; in fact this is one of the priority branches of the regional industry, which have the strategic value for the defence and economy of the country. And today the Mykolayiv shipbuilders make great contribution to development of modern military and civil vessel– and shipbuilding.

For the last five years for stabilization of work of shipbuilding industry the package of important problems were solved at legislative and governmental level and it gave the possibility to stabilize production activity of enterprises of the branch and to improve financial position of enterprises. For shipbuilding plants the favourable regime of taxation was set as well as special custom regime; the debt of payments in the budget and state special purpose funds was restructured. The government grants significance financial support to the shipbuilding enterprises of Mykolayiv; therefore the special economic zone "Mykolayiv" was created.

The history of the Plant «Okean» is a model; it was established in 1952, when the first vessels – non self-propelled barges were built. For 50 years the plant built almost 400 different vessels with the displacement over 2,5 million tons: these are dry-cargo and scientific-research vessels, marine tugs, super trawl ships – shrimp trawlers, fish processing bases and ore-oil tankers. The enterprise tested the heavy economic crisis, and today due to the strategic investor it experiences the second birth. Since acquisition by the Dutch Firm "Damen" of the controlling interest enterprise "Damen Ship Yards Okean" the radical changes were taken place there so the production volumes were extended once or twice; the social situation was normalized; the collective believed in the future and the order book was formed for the next 5 years. Almost monthly the shipbuilders launch a ship. By the International Rating "Golden Fortune" the JSC "Damen Ship Yards Okean" was acknowledged by the best enterprise in 2002.

The Production Association "Zorya" manufacturing 100 percents of gas turbines of the country is effectively functioning. The production of the SE "Scientific-Production Complex of Gas Pipe-Building "Zorya-Mashproekt" was certificated by the quality system ISO-9001 and has demand all over the world.

Annually more than one million tons of alumina from import high-quality bauxites (from Guinea and Jamaica) is produced by one of the biggest European enterprises of non ferrous metallurgy – the JSC "Mykolayiv Aluminous Factory". The enterprise fully provides the Ukrainian demands and about 90% of factory products are exported to other countries, receiving instead the finished aluminium; it exports 75% of this aluminium. The record growth of production volumes happened in 2000: more than 1.15 million tons of alumina has been manufactured that exceeds a project capacity of the factory (1 million tones). That year the enterprise has received 10 tons of metallic gallium (rare-earth element used in electronics and space technologies) from production wastes (red slurry) for the first time.

In 2002 more than 20 enterprises of Mykolayiv Region became the diploma-winners of the International Academic Rating "Golden Fortune", including SE "Scientific-Production Complex of Gas Pipe-Building "Zorya-Mashproekt", JSC "Pervomayskdyzelmash" and JSC "Mykolayiv Aluminous Factory".

The enterprises of electroenergy industry are stably functioning, in particular separated subdivision South Ukrainian NPP of the National Energy Generating Company "Energoatom", which produces almost 17.6 billion kW/ year of electric power that exceeds the regional demands by 3.5 times. The share of the regional electroenergy industry makes 9.6% of the national production of electric power, including almost 21.0% of electric power produced by the nuclear power plants of Ukraine.

The enterprises of the light industry of Mykolayiv Region manufacture 11.2% of products of the national Ukrainian volumes, in particular 13.3% of the national production of man's shirts, 11.7% of corselets and almost 6% of coats and trousers.

The share of one of the most powerful enterprises of leather industry of Ukraine JSC "VozKO" in production of leather goods of chromic tanning makes annually 50-60%. The products of the enterprise were certificated by the quality system ISO-9000.

The LLC "Production-Trading Firm "Velam" constantly extends the production volumes. The company was the first in CIS and fifth in the world has mastered the unique technology of production of ecologically friendly material "Sprut" that enables to avoid the usage of foam rubber.

The JSC "Laktalis-Ukraine" has reached the great successes in the food industry. The company produces the wide range of dairy products. For the last years more than 30 new names of products were introduced in the enterprise. The volume of foreign investments in the JSC "Laktalis-Ukraine" makes USD 3.02 million.

The LLC "Sandora" is effectively functioning in the canning branch and it is one of the most producers of natural juices, nectars, fruit and soft drinks in Ukraine (more than 70 names in the packing "Tetra-Pak"). The volume of foreign investments (Republic Lithuania) in the enterprise makes USD 2.0 million.

The regional share in Ukrainian production of can foods makes 10.6% as well as products from whole milk and butter – 4.5 and 3.3% respectively.

Among enterprises with foreign investments, which successfully develop investment projects, there are following enterprises of food industry and processing of agricultural products such as JSC "Mykolayiv Brewery "Yantar" (country-investor – Cyprus; volume of foreign investments – USD 14.39 million) and Joint Ukrainian-Hungarian-English Venture "Nibulon" – the producer and exporter of agricultural production (volume of foreign investments – USD 0,1 million). Among enterprises providing transport services there are JSC "Mykolayiv Potassium Terminal "NIKA-TERA" (country-investor – Cyprus; volume of foreign investments – USD 4.9 million) and Mykolayiv Sea Commercial Port (volume of foreign investments – USD 1.8 million).

The development of investment projects at these enterprises is oriented on renovation of fixed assets, reconstruction and modernization of technological processes.

For years of independence it was not only saved but also extended the network of educational-training establishments in the region. Almost in every district the schools of a new type – lyceums and gymnasia (22) are opened.

The high school of the region has been changed cardinally for these years. The leading higher educational establishment of Ukraine training specialists for shipbuilding and contiguous branches of the industry is the Ukrainian State Maritime Technical University. For its existence about 40 thousand engineers-shipbuilders, machine builders, economists, programmers were trained and the like. The pedagogical, humanitarian named after Petro Mogyla and agrarian universities of the IV level of accreditation are effectively functioning.

There are three professional theatres, 1180 establishments of culture, including 577 clubs in the region. 552 libraries, two state regional museums, three parks of culture and rest, zoo, are functioning in the region.

Mykolayiv citizens thanks to the labour achievements inscribe worthy pages in the chronicle of native land. The positive results can be achieved only thanks to the political stability and purposeful well-coordinated work in interests of good and improvement of life of people.

The Odesa land is the territory of the boundles Ukrainian steppe and genial Black Sea. It is situated on the crossroads of the important international ways (the features of geographic position of the region conditioned the entrance of its territory two of nine routes of international transport corridors); Odesa Region is a part of Ukrainian sea front as well as seacoast and boundary region. The state Ukrainian frontier with Romania and Moldova passes on the region’s territory.

The area of Odesa Region makes 33.3 thousand sq. km (5.5% of the territory of Ukraine) that almost equals the sizes of the territory of Republic of Moldova. The population of Odesa Region is 2448.2 thousand people. The region is multinational: Ukrainians, Russians, Jewries, Moldovans and other people live here.

Among other Ukrainian regions Odesa Region is showed up by two leading inter-branch complexes as marine and transport, and among other sectors of economy of Odesa Region the transport is the most important. On the region’s territory eight ports are placed. They are connected by transport waterways with almost 600 ports of practically all countries of the world. The effective water ways (marine and river) enable to extend the economic relations of the region with Eastern and Central Europe (down the Danube River). The Odesa Port and other ports of the region are placed in the junction of intensive marine and river transport international communications that makes the powerful transport-transit potential of the region.

The International Ferry Line "Ilyichevsk-Varna" (Bulgaria) operates since 1978; the ferries connect the city of Odesa with Turkey and Greece; the Ferry Transport Line "Ilyichevsk-Poti-Batumi" functions. The container and piggyback train "Viking", which connects the Black and Baltic seas, functions on the Ferry Line "Ilyichevsk-Varna". The functioning of a new international transport corridor enables to decrease the time and expenses on cargo delivery in the destination direction. The following ferry lines as Reni-Rousse (Bulgaria), Reni-Tulcea (Romania) and Reni-Galati (Romania) function on the Dunabe River.

The industrial marine complex of Odesa Region includes also five ship repair yards such as joint-stock companies №2 Odesa Repair Ship Yard, Repair Ship Yard "Ukraine", State-Owned Enterprise "Ilyichevsk Ship Repair Yard", Izmail Chip Repair Yard and Kiliy Ship Repair and Building Yard.

Each of the ship repair yards is the enterprise with the full technological cycle able to independently repair ships in full measure. The yards successfully mastered and widely apply modern technologies of repair (metal-working, welding, defect detection, application of polymeric materials and glued compositions, modern facilities of corrosion protection and becoming overgrown and others), and also progressive technological processes of making and renewal of ship engines and mechanisms. Except for repair of ships, these enterprises produce a lot of industrial products as passenger cruisers, oil garbage disposal vessels, and heavy containers of international standard, variably-spare parts of ship equipment, casting and bobbins for ship repair and the like.

Odesa Region is the highly developed industrial region and its industry has a great share in the structure of the Ukrainian national economic complex. The enterprises of machine-building and metal-working, chemical and petrochemical, food and light industries and others are placed on its territory. There is the highly developed machine-tool industry in the machine-building production. It is represented by enterprises on production of metal-cutting machine-tools and extrusion toolage. The seacoast position of the region conditioned the presence of ship repair and shipbuilding industries, fish industrial and fish processing branch, production of refrigeration and technological equipment for processing of fish and sea products. The port industrial complexes handle export (ammonia and carbamide) and import (oil, tea and sugar) raw material. The leading place in the structure of the commercial products in Odesa Region is belonging to food industry, which includes sugar (Joint-Stock Company "Odesa Sugar Company", Kotovsk Sugar House and others), oil and fat, vegetable processing and wine making industries, production of food concentrates. The important role in the production complex is plaid by meat packing, dairy processing, alcoholic beverage and confectionary. The well-recognized producers of alcohol drinks, champagnes, wines, mineral waters and soft drinks in Odesa Region are the Joint-Stock Company "First Distillery", Contractor-Run Enterprise "Odesavinprom", Contractor-Run Enterprise "Odesa Cognac Factory", Scientific-Production Enterprise "Nyva" and others.

In the structure of regional industrial production the important role is plaid by light industry. The aggregated branches of medical industry, production of pharmaceutical goods and preparations, medicines from plastics, veterinary instruments and equipment are represented in Odesa Region. The enterprises of chemical industry of the region produce mineral fertilizers, varnish-and-paint and plastic wares, chemical detergents and industrial rubber goods.

The agriculture is the second sector by volume and employment of labour resources in Odesa Region. The main direction of agricultural specialization of the region is grain and cattle breeding with the highly developed production of sunflower, wine, poultry farming and pig breeding. The share of vegetable products in the general making of the regional gross agricultural product makes 65% as well as stock-raising – 35%. In the structure of the gross product of agriculture the share of separate kinds makes following as grain – 29.9%, industrial crops – 5.9%, including sunflower – 4.1%, meat -15.9%, milk – 13.3% and vegetables -13.0%. The share of the region in the general production volume of the Ukrainian Gross Agricultural Product exceeds 5.3% as well as grain – 7.5%, sunflower – 8.1%, wine – 45.5%, meat – 4.5%, milk – 4.8% and eggs – 6.3%.

With the purpose of further development of small business the Programme of Small Business Development for 2003-2004 was designed in the region, which foresees the complex of measures on information, financial, skilled and resource providing of entrepreneurial activity. On the whole almost 23.7 thousand small enterprises have been registered in the region as well as more than 92 thousand subjects of entrepreneurial activity – natural persons. The majority of small enterprises (45.4%) work in the field of trade and public catering, industry (13.8%) and building (11.6%). There is a tendency to decreasing number of small enterprises, which carry out trading-intermediary activity with their re-orientation on production of goods.

For support of entrepreneurial structures of small and medium business it is foreseen to allocate 2.9 million hryvna from the regional budget in 2003. The new structures as information-consulting centers, agencies of business development, centers of social partnership, scientific-consulting centers of investments and international business and others began to develop actively.

The system of preparation and retraining of personnel, including unemployed persons, for occupation by small business is under development. The public associations of businessmen work and their influencing and social activity grows.

The geographical position of Odesa Region is conditioned by both the advantageous transport-geographical location so activation of its participation in the largest European inter-regional organizations as Assembly of European Regions and Working Community of the Dunabe Countries. The region also assists to active participation of Ukraine in work of countries-members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC). The cooperation of the region with regions from the EU countries-members and countries-candidates in membership is under development; the inter-regional relations with regions from the CIS countries, first of all Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Turkmenistan, are being formed.

The favourable climate, curative mud and salt waters of the estuaries, sand beaches and mineral water springs are the main natural recreation resources of the region. By rich and variety of natural medical resources and number of resort-health establishments the region takes the third place in Ukraine. The regional resorts by composition of medical resources are mud climatic with the elements of balneotherapy. The recreation resources enable to effectively treat the diseases of circulation organs, nervous system, respiratory organs, digestion organs, metabolic disturbance and the like. More than 600 establishments for servicing of tourists and holiday-makers are counted in the region. The regional tourist enterprises support the permanent relations with the most CIS countries, countries of Europe, Africa, America and Asia, arrange marine and river cruises, aviation and bus trips and provide tourists with various services.

The strategy of development of tourism and recreation economy in the region is directed on creation of highly profitable industry that is to cover demands of internal and international tourism, strengthening of inter-relations between tourism and other spheres of regional national economic complex, saving of monuments of history and culture, increase of spiritual potential of society, level of environment protection activity and attraction of investments in development of tourism infrastructure.

The Poltava land is situated in the Middle Dnieper riverside and is one of those historical regions having become the core of the Ukrainian statehood. Its historic and cultural properties, natural riches and powerful national economic complex play an important role in the state building of independent Ukraine.

The history of this province dates back to the period of centuries depth and the information of archaeological investigations testify to it. At the beginning of the Common Era the present Poltava land was a part of ancient Slavonic tribes settling. In Kyiv Rus times many fortresses have been built on the region’s territory. At the beginning of XVIII century the Poltava land found itself in the center of military events. As a result of the Poltava battle the hope on independence of Ukraine has been lost for a long time. However the Poltava land became the center of motion of the Ukrainian sergeant-majors on defence of their rights. More than 300 settlements have been marked on the Boplan map of the middle of XVIII century within the boundaries of the present Poltava land.

In 1802 the administrative province was established. Its territory was too large. The Poltava province had the lands that later had been passed to many present neighbouring regions.

The region was the center of Chumaks (salt traders) and the various crafts prospered there intensively. The first sugar house has been built in 1828. Due to railway construction (in 1869 Kryukiv was connected with Odessa as well as in 1870 Kremenchuk with Kharkiv) the new industrial enterprises were appeared and the trade has been extended. On the edge of XIX-XX centuries there were already 841 enterprises in the Poltava land.

Exactly on the Poltava land the zemstvos began to be actively formed, and the political motion has been activated at the beginning of XX century. The global processes of industrialization, and also collectivization were taken place, as well as elsewhere, in the conditions of terror and repressions.

For 1923-1937 a few administrative reforms were conducted in the Soviet Union. As a result of one of them on September, 22, 1937 Poltava Region was created in present scopes practically.

The present territory of the region makes 28.8 thousand sq. km. The population is 1610, 9 thousand people.

During 50-70th years of the last century many changes has been taken place in the administrative-territorial division, as a result the Poltava land began to divide into 25 rural districts and 5 cities of regional and 10 cities of district value, 21 settlements, 467 settlement councils and 1848 villages.

The Poltava land is rich in mineral resources. The oil, gas condensate and natural gas are the main fuel and energy resources of the region, the extraction of which began in Poltava Region in 1951. The Glynsko-Rozbyshiv (Lokhvytsia and Gadyach districts) is the large oil and gas deposit of the region, providing almost one and a half of extraction volumes of oil and gas in the region. The Poltava oil is of high-quality: its composition include up to 55 per cents of light oil and quite little sulphur. The associated gas features almost 70 per cents of propane-butane highly flammable fractions, which makes it a valuable raw material for chemical industry (production of chemical fibres and plastics).

By economic structure Poltava Region is the industrial-agrarian region of Ukraine belonging to the regions with the average level of industrial production development. The majority of branches of the regional industry started to develop in 50-60th years: oil- and gas extraction, iron ore production, ferrous metallurgy, oil refining, automobile, machine tool and instrument making, electrical engineering and the like.

It should be noted also that Poltava Region has a powerful mining industry, which is represented by the Joint-Stock Company "Poltava Mining and Concentrating Integrated Works". The iron ore concentrate is the basic product of this enterprise with the content of iron up to 65 per cents and fluxed iron pellets for the blast-furnace workshops of iron and steel works.

The largest enterprises of the chemical industries are follows as JSC "Kremenchuk Black Carbon Plant", Kremenchuk Collective Enterprise "Spectrum" and Poltava JSC "Khimplastmas".

The food industry of the region is represented by meat packing, dairy processing, sugar refining, baking and confectionary, fruit and vegetable canning, distilling and alcoholic beverage, brewing, oil and fat industry and production of soft beverages.

The machine-building and metal-working take the third place in the regional industrial complex by production volumes.

Among the regional important productions in the national division of labour, there are automobile and electrical engineering industry, machine tool and instrument making, railway car building, production of diamond instruments, road building machines and technological equipment for chemical, food and light industries.

On the territory of Poltava Region all types of transport (except for marine) function, including railway, motor-car, river, pipeline and air. Making cargo and passenger traffic, the separate types of transport co-operate between itself, forming the transport system of the region.

The leading position in cargo traffic in Poltava Region belongs to the pipeline and railway transport, in carrying of passengers the leaders are motor, electric and railway transport. The operating length of railways on the territory of the region is 853.4 km. The region is crossed by four railways as the Bakhmach-Romodan-Kremenchuk with the Lokhvytsia-Gadyach sideline, the Bakhmach-Pyryatyn-Grebinka, the Lozova-Poltava-Romodan-Grebinka and the Kharkiv-Poltava -Kremenchuk.

The heaviest loaded is the motorway Lozova-Poltava-Romodan-Grebinka-Kyiv, by which the transit flow of coal, machines and industrial equipment, chemical goods is forwarding from Donbass. The second biggest traffic load is carried out through the motorway Kremenchuk-Poltava-Kharkiv that provides the transit flow of ferrous metals, machines and industrial equipment from the Dnieper riverside to other regions of Ukraine and abroad.

The navigable rivers of the region Dnieper, Sula and Vorskla create the necessary conditions for development of river transport. The transport waterways pass on the Dnieper and the Sula from a mouth to the Tarasivka Pier and on the Vorskla from a mouth to Kobelyak. The river transport of the region carries mainly national economic cargo. The main share of cargo is transported on the Dnieper River.

The important motorway of the national significance Kyiv-Kharkiv with the Poltava-Krasnograd sideline and the motorway Poltava-Kremenchuk-Oleksandriya are running through the regional territory.

The Poltava Airport is one of the oldest in Ukraine (built in 1924), however the present landing strip of the airport enables to receive and dispatch the aircrafts of different types.

Poltava Region has been and remains the important center of agriculture development. Already in 70th years of the last century the environment-friendly production technologies were actively implemented in the region. Today 640 agricultural enterprises increase production of goods. In 2002 almost 3 million tons of grain has been harvested. There are good prospects for beet growing and the stock-raising is being renewed.

The Regional Special Purpose Programme of Development of Electric, Mail and Mobile Communications, designed on the basis of the Complex Programme of Creation of the United National Communications Network of Ukraine, is under operation in Poltava Region. In 1999 first in Ukraine the digital telephone exchange 5 ESS for 10 thousand subscribers was put into operation in Poltava.

The region is entered the top regions of Ukraine by many indexes. In particular it is concerned the internal and external investments, volumes of foreign trade in commodities and services and the like. The powerful skilled, scientific, educational, financial and technical and raw material base creates the wonderful prospects for development. Poltava Region has wonderful prospects in the sphere of tourism and resort business.

Poltava Region was fated to become the spiritual center of Ukraine. In particular, it played the important role in development of the Ukrainian culture and literature. On this blessed land the first Cossack chroniclers Grygoriy Grabyanka and Samiylo Velychko inspirationally worked. From here the prominent Ukrainian philosopher, world-known poet and enlightener Grygoriy Skovorada began to wonder. The outstanding Ukrainian writer Ivan Kotlyarevskiy, who became the beginner of the Ukrainian literature, writing the immortal "Aeneid", lived and worked there. The great part of members of the Society of Cyril and Methodius was born there. The world view of Mykola Gogol', Panas Myrny, Yevgen Grebinka, Oles Gonchar, Pavlo Zagrebelny and many other famous writers has been formed there.

The legendary Marusya Churay created her songs in Poltava. The family that gave outstanding composer Petro Tchaikovsky originated there; the prominent Ukrainian composers Yuriy and Platon Mayboroda, Oleksandr Bilash and singer Ivan Kozlovskiy were born there. The song traditions of the Poltava land are continued by prominent our contemporary Rayisa Kyrychenko.

The mathematician Mykhaylo Ostrogradskiy, surgeon Mykola Sklifosovskiy, scientist-ground expert Vasyl Dokuchayev, genius of cosmonautics Yuriy Kondratyuk and many other prominent scientists with the world name went to the glory from the Poltava land. The inhabitants of Poltava Region are proud that the life and creation of such global mental giants as Volodymyr Vernadskiy and Volodymyr Korolenko and world-known teachers Vasyl Sukhomlynskiy and Anton Makarenko is connected with the Poltava land.

For years of independence many substantial changes have been happened in all spheres of public life in Rivne Region. In particular, for the last three years the growth of industrial production in majority branches of the industry has been provided such as woodworking – by 2.6 times, production of construction materials and glass wares – by 2.2 times, extraction of non power materials – by 2.5 times, light industry – by 1.4 times, food – by 1.3 times and machine-building – by 1.7 times.

The growth rates of industrial production in 2003 are one of the highest in Ukraine by results of the first quarter and made 20.6% at 10.7% in Ukraine.

For the period of 1997-2002 the match factory with the capacity of 630 million boxes per year has been commissioned for the first time in Ukraine as well as the powerful Ukrainian and CIS Glass Plant "Consumers-Glass-Sunset" JSC with the capacity of 210 million units of glass container per year; the Jeweller Plant "Ukrburshtyn" SE was built; the modern production of water proof plywood has been arranged at the LLC "ODEK-Ukraine"; the output of new types of products has been mastered at the Rivne Plant of Non Woven Materials, enterprise "Verstatnyk" and Enterprise "Aquaton".

On the base of the JSC "Kostopil Glass Plant" there was created the JSC "Kostopil Plant of Glass Wares" that makes glass products competitive on the internal market.

The LLC "Svispan-Limited" extends capacities on manufacturing high-quality products of wood plates. The modern technologies are introduced at the JSC "Rokytniv Glass Plant". The JSC "Volyn-Cement" extends its production volumes.

The output of new types of competitive products at the enterprises of food industry is being introduced: JSC "Kostopil Factory of Food Consumer Products", Goshchan Factory of Food Consumer Products, Rivne Confectionary Factory and LLC "Agropererobka". On the base of the JSC "Mizots Sugar Plant" there was created the LLC "Newest Starched Technologies" on manufacturing treacle for confectionary factories and enterprises of food industry.

The production range of the JSC "Rivne Plant of High-Voltage Apparatus" has been renewed by almost 100%. This is a single Ukrainian manufacturer of complete transformer substations of different modifications, hauling substations for railway, complete distributive devices for thermal and nuclear power plants.

The JSC "Rivne Plant "Gazotron" launched the option for water utilization, which contains mercury. This a single option in the Western Region of Ukraine. The enterprise continues collaboration with the Moscow Electric Lamp Plant in the field of mastering of energy conservation lamp production.

In 2002 the level of commodity production manufacturing has been increased by 2.5 times at the Enterprise "Rivnetorf" by comparison with 2001.

There are taken measures on providing production growth of agricultural products in Rivne Region, improvement of financial results of management activity, solution social problems in the village. Today 451 private agricultural enterprises and 546 farm facilities are functioning in the region; the infrastructure of the agrarian market has been formed; the network of its functioning is improved. The reform in the village provided the stabilization and increase of main agricultural production.

The positive changes in the field of construction and architecture of the region were taken place for the last several years. The production of modern energy conservation effective materials, wares and constructions (foam polystyrene plates, foam concrete blocks, dry construction mixtures, warm effective glass-glazed windows and doors, meters of gas, water and others) has been arranged.

In the annual All-Ukrainian competition of the best objects put into operation, Rivne Region is traditionally represented by many objects-laureates. Among the best objects there are the "Ukrburshtyn" Plant, administration building of the regional tax administration, first turn of the regional oncologic dispensary, Bereznivka match factory, medical building № 1 of the hospital for invalids of war in the village of Klevan, small student town of the National University "Ostrog Academy" and others.

The investment processes are activated in the region. In 2002 there were mastered the investments in the fixed assets at expenses of all financing sources to the amount of 702 million hryvna that exceeds the level of 2001 by 15.1%.

In 2002 121.4 thousand square m of habitation was put into service in the region that exceeds the level of 2001 by 25.2%.

The investment project of production renewal of electric power at the Khrinnytska HPP has been developed in 2002 at expense of the governmental innovative facilities to the amount of 960 thousand hryvna.

The volume of direct foreign investments in the regional economy is extended. Among countries-investors there are most contributions from the Great Britain, Russian Federation, USA and Moldova. The most foreign investments were attracted in processing industry, transport, wholesale and retail trade, and agriculture.

Following highways as Kyiv-Warsaw, Kyiv-Brest, Kyiv-Lviv and Kyiv-Chernivtsi pass through the territory of Rivne Region. The junctions of Rivne, Zdolbuniv and Sarny maintain many railways crossing the territory of the region.

The International Airport Rivne receives the aircrafts of all types. The JSC "Rivne Airline Universal-Air" carries out transportation of passengers and cargo on international and internal airlines, renders aviation services in other industries of national economy, repairs the aviation equipment.

The regional growth rates in the volume of retail commodity turnover are one of the highest in Ukraine. In 2002 it has been increased by 33% at 16.4% in Ukraine.

The tendency to growth of the regional foreign trade turnover is stable. The most volumes of export deliveries were carried out in the Russian Federation, Poland, Italy and Germany. The biggest share in the export structure is occupied by wood and wood wares, organic chemical compounds, fertilizes, electric machines, cereals and glass wares.

The most products are imported from the Russian Federation, Poland, Germany, Byelorussia and Netherlands. The basis of import is oil and products of its refining, paper and cardboard, machines and equipments, ground transport facilities, plastic and plastic wares.

Due to the use of small business potential in the region it was succeeded to solve the problem of passenger motor-car transportation, to satisfy the regional demands in establishments of trade, public catering and sphere of services. The share of small business in local budgets incomes makes 22%.

There are positive changes in the complex use of minerals, water and forest resources in Rivne Region. 624 deposits of minerals of state and local value were developed on the region’s territory. The most important are beds of building and facing stone, including basalts, pottery raw material, cement raw material, peat, tuff, phosphorite, sand, brick-tiled raw material and mineral waters. The deposits of burshtine single in Ukraine were found and are being developed here. The geological supplies of peat on the region’s territory make 18% of the national volume.

The unique basalts of Rivne Region are used for production of architectural-construction wares, quarry-break-stone products and paving blocks. The manufacturing of heat insulation materials from basaltic raw material has been arranged; it permanent demand is in construction, aircraft and shipbuilding. The stocked woods in the region make about 100 million cube m. 40% of Rivne territory is covered with woods. The active work on renewal of forest supply is proceeding in the region; the deep working of wood and its complex use is stimulated.

Rivne land is rich in superficial water. It creates favourable conditions for the complex use of water resources of the region, including development of small power engineering, fish economy and tourism.

There are 27 higher educational establishments of all levels of accreditation in Rivne Region, including four universities, among it the Ostrog Academy with the status of national university has been reconstructed. The scientific researches and developments in the region are provided by 18 organizations.

875 medical-prophylactic establishments, 170 ambulatory-out-patient establishments and 635 feldsher-midwife stations are functioning in the region.

The measures directed on saving and subsequent development of establishments of culture and creative potential of the branch are consistently taken in Rivne Region. Today two regional theatres are operating in the region such as musical-drama and doll as well as regional philharmonic society, 598 library establishments, 688 establishments of club type, 34 schools of aesthetic education and 10 state museums and preserves.

Rivne Region became the center of many international festivals such as Slavic Folk-Lore Festival "Kolyada", Children's Choral Collective "Vesnyani Dzvonochky", Choreographic Art Collective "Stezhkamy Mavky", Youth Traditional Folk Art Collective "Drevlyanski Dzherela", Children's Folk-Lore Collective "Kotylasya Torba" and others.

The purposeful activity of the regional executive authorities on creation of favourable business and investment climate in combination with powerful economic, scientific and technical, resource and human potential of the region and its successful geographical location assists to expansion of inter-regional and intergovernmental collaboration volumes, to gradual transition of economic complex and social sphere of the region into the European standards of production, consumption and social security.

Sumy Region has the highly developed diversified industrial complex with 266 large and medium enterprises and more than 800 small enterprises. The irreversible process of increase of industrial production volumes in Sumy Region began in 1999. For the last two years the production volumes in machine-building has been significantly extended most of all.

The introduction of market mechanisms conditioned the workers to hardly work on increase of production competitiveness achieved due to introduction of progressive technological processes and mastering of new types of products. So, more than 500 new types of products were mastered in 2002.

The extractive industry of Sumy Region is well developed. There is extracted 40% of the national volume of oil in the region. The extraction of high-quality quartzites (content SiO2 – 98-99%) used for production of silicon and ferro-alloys is at high level. The "OkhtyrkaNaphtoGaz" Oil and Gas Extraction Administration (main structure in the JSC "Ukrnafta" system) and Kachaniv Gas -Remaker Plant are the leading enterprises of the industry, where in accordance with the complex government programme of energy conservation the reconstruction is conducted.

The machine-building and metal-working are leading branches of the regional industry in the conditions of market transformation. The machine-building complex of Sumy Region is specialized on production of hi-tech chemical and oil-extracting equipment, gas-compressor plants, pumps, industrial pipeline armature, technological equipment for processing industries of agroindustrial complex, facilities of automation and others.

The specialists of enterprises developed many economic well-grounded investment projects and business plans of production development. Due to introduction of the finished products quality system at majority of enterprises it has been certificated pursuant to world standards.

The leading enterprises of the branch are follows as Sumy JSC "M. V. Frunze SMNVO" and "Nasosenergomash", Konotop branch of the JSC "Motordetal-Pravex", Sveya Pump Works and many others.

The enterprises of chemical and petrochemical industry provide great payment in the regional general industrial production volume (10%). The basic chemical production and chemical-photographic industry prevail in the structure of this branch so its enterprises produce mineral fertilizers, sulphuric acid, mineral pigments, forage additives, chemical reagents, paint and varnish products, magnetic ribbon, picture film, industrial rubber wares and others.

Lately the large work on partial re-orientation of enterprises into production of competitive goods, their restructuring, changes of property forms, leading of wares to the proper level of quality and decreasing expenses on production has been executed. Following directions as decline of material capacity of products and energy capacity of manufacturing are priority.

The food is the leading industry of the region. For the last years the most direct foreign investments were attracted in this sphere. The range of goods has been substantially extended and their quality has been considerably improved. The most powerful enterprise of this branch not only in the region but also in Ukraine is the Chocolate Factory "Kraft Foods Ukraine". This enterprise has a certificate on compliance of its products to the international standard of the quality management system ISO 9002. The row of high rewards were obtained by products of the Romen Bread-Backing Plant, JSC «Konotopmyaso» and JSC "Shostka Milk Factory". The trade mark "Bili Beregy" of the Shostka Milk Factory has been acknowledged by the best trade mark of Ukraine in the National Rating. The products of the JSC «Romen Milk Factory» were awarded with golden medals in the National Rating "Best Trade Marks of Ukraine" in 2002. In the exhibition-competition of dairy commodity producers of Ukraine the butter "Vologodske" and cheese "Rosiysky" of the JSC "Okhtyrka Cheese-Making Factory" won golden medals and were acknowledged by the most best in Ukraine. The vodka "Dvoryanska" of the LLC "Gorobyna" was awarded with Diploma for the first place in the Exhibition "Alco-Soft-2002" in Kyiv.

Sumy Region is the agrarian land. For the last three years the manufacturing of gross production in all categories of facilities has been increased by 29.6%. There are almost one and a half thousand agricultural enterprises in the regional agricultural complex. The last years became the important in forming of new production and social relations in the village and becoming of new created agricultural enterprises based on the private property on land and ownership.

The production of food corn, sugar beets, winter and spring rape, oil radish, sunflower, flax, hemps, groats crops and potato is priority one in the plant growing in Sumy Region.

With the purpose of increase of efficiency of agricultural production the row of scientific establishments is functioning in Sumy Region. So, the Ivanivka experimental station successfully works on improvement of sorts of winter wheat and their districts. The high-quality seeds of sugar beets are supplied to the customers by the JSC "Vorskla" from Trostyanets. The Agricultural Firm "Sumynasinnya" is well known in Ukraine and Western Europe as supplier of high-quality seeds of long-term herbages.

The stock-raising industry of the region is specialized on breeding of milk and meat cattle, pigs and poultry. The positive dynamics characterizes the production of basic types of stock-raising products. So, in 2002 the production of meat, milk and eggs has been significantly increased.

The introduction of modern technologies and sorts in combination with favourable weather conditions gave possibility in 2002 to get the higher productivity of cereals for the last seven years and to harvest more than 1,3 million tons of corn. The farmers of the Pidlisnivka branch of the JSC "Rise-Agro" good worked as well as Agricultural Firm "Vladanka" and Agricultural Firm "Pershe Travnya" LLC of Sumy district, where the highest harvests of cereals were collected.

The development of agrarian production is impossible without functioning of the ramified agrarian market on the modern stage. Therefore in the region there was created and is functioned the Sumy Stock Commodity Agroindustrial Exchange as well as 1200 points on purveyance of milk, 243 points on purveyance of meat and 481 receiving-purveying points of vegetables, oil, sugar and corn.

The strengthening of economy and development of social infrastructure in the village depends on competent reformation of agroindustrial complex. For providing demands of rural population in food and industrial stuffs 251 firm shops are functioning. The services to the population and agricultural enterprises are provided by 17 points on repair of equipment of farms, 40 mechanized detachments and 15 machine-technological stations. 23 points of veterinary service were created at establishments of veterinary medicine as well as 106 chemists' kiosks and 139 state and 39 private out-patient clinics.

The regional investment potential is extended. The important source of investments in the fixed assets is the personal funds of enterprises (over 80%). In 2002 the investors from 21 countries of the world invested more than USD 4.5 million of direct foreign investments in the regional economy.

The housing building is intensively developed in Sumy Region. 126.9 thousand square m of habitation was put into service in 2002 that exceeds the level of previous year by 15%. The attraction of facilities of non traditional sources of financing to individual housing building by the Programme "Native House" is lasting.

Since 2001 the stable tendency to dynamic growth of the regional foreign trade turnover has been set. In the regional structure of export deliveries the leading positions are occupied by Russian Federation, Byelorussia, Turkmenistan and Germany. The products are mainly imported from Russia, Byelorussia, Germany, Turkmenistan and Lithuania. The geography of foreign trade partners of the region is constantly extended (more than 80 countries of the world today). The products of machine-building, chemical and food industry prevail in the regional export commodity structure. The import commodity structure is characterized by the considerable volume of mineral products for the last years (fuel, oil and oil products), plastic, paper and textile raw material.

For years of independence of Ukraine the small business became the independent element of regional market economy and it influences on structural development making great payment in extension of production volumes, retail commodity turnover and promotes the more complete satisfaction of consumer demand of population.

The market infrastructure is intensively developed and it comprises 43 branches of commercial banks, two insurance companies, leasing company, 32 public accountants, 19 realtor and 10 publicity firms, four business-centers, business-incubator, two business support funds, 13 credit unions and the network of their branches today. The Sumy Stock Commodity Agroindustrial Exchange and 10 district trading houses successfully function. The brokerage offices are operating in every district. Today the businessmen are engaged in solution of many regional problems. In particular, by their assistance the stadium "Yuvileynyy" in the regional center was built; the passenger transportation on the most loaded routes was arranged; many other useful affairs were done.

Sumy Region has been significantly changed and its cities and villages became more beautiful and merrier. It is pleasantly to mark that there is a particle of labour of each resident of the region in these changes.

The sources of history of Ternopil Region dates back to the distant times of Kyiv Rus and Galych-Volyn principality. For many centuries the people have been creating the eternal values for the motherland fruitfully preserved traditions, customers and national culture.

The characteristic sign of nature of Ternopil land is its variety. The flat central part of the region's territory is surrounded by Kremenets sublimity in the north as well as on the west – Berezhansko-Monastyrsky (Podil) humpbacked mountain, on the east – Avratynska sublimity and on the south it is cut by deep and often canyon-like river valleys of left inflows of the Dniestr River. The central part of the region is crossed from the north-west to the south-east by the Tovtrova chine (Medobory). Ternopil Region was established in 1939. Its area is 13.8 thousand square km that makes 2.3% of the Ukrainian territories. It stretches from the north to south upon 195 km and from the west to east upon 129 km.

The number of regional population is 1180.3 thousand people and it majority lives in the rural locality. By the administrative-territorial division the region is divided into 17 districts with 1052 settlements of regional and district submission, and also with 18 settlements of urban type.

There are a lot of rivers (1650), ponds and reservoirs in the region. In the ancient times a greater part of the regional present territory was covered with deciduous and coniferous forests. The forests have the important value for the present regional economy, however now they occupy only 13 percents of the territory. These are in majority valuable and highly productive oak forests with parcels of lindens, ash-trees, hornbeam, maples and other species and only there are pine, pine-oak and spruce trees within the basins of the Ikva and Viliya rivers. In several spots, ancient oak and beech forests can still be found, consisting of centuries-old exotic elite trees.

The original steppe vegetation, over 1200 species of superior spore and flowering plants has been preserved in Ternopil land, mainly through the Dniestr and Seret banks at the Tovtrova chine, in Kremenets Mountains.

The Ternopil land's animal complex having been formed under the influence of three zoo-geographical regions – Polissya, Carpathians and Steppe and is represented with forest and steppe fauna. The most widespread here are hares, foxes, roe deer, wild boars, stone and beech martens, squirrels, otters, prairie-dogs, weasels and partridge. There are also ermines, Podil moles, dappled gophers, wild cats, wolves and elks. The dappled deer, wild rabbits and pheasants were brought to forest tracts. Among the resources of the region the leading place is occupied by construction materials and raw material for their production, in particular, high-quality chalk, gypsum, limestones, magnesian lime, marls, sands and peat.

The perspective resources of the region are also medical mineral water "Naftusya", sulphide, bromide water of high mineralization and medical mud. On the whole on the region's territory more than 40 fields of mineral waters were found. On the base of it majority it is planned construction and operation of sanitary and resort establishments and water bottling plants; two balneology sanatoriums of national value are functioning today in Gusyatyn and Konopkivka of Terebovlya district. Ternopil Region is traditionally considered as region with dominant agriculture. The land fund of the region makes 1.4 million ha and the highly productive agricultural lands make 76.3% of total lands, as well as 11% of hayfields and pastures. The natural and climatic conditions are favourable for growing almost any kind of agricultural crops. The trend in plant cultivation is grain crops and beet roots with the well-developed growing of potatoes and vegetables. The basic cereals are winter wheat and spring barley. The maize, spring wheat, rye, pea, buckwheat, millet and other cereals and grain legumes are also cultivated.

The leading industries of national economy of the region are food industry (58% of the general regional industrial production volume), machine-building and metal-working (9%), industry of construction materials (6%), light (5%) and woodworking industry (1%). The food industry processing agricultural raw material is intensively developed. Here there are following spheres such as sugar, meat, milk, alcoholic-vodka, confectionary, tobacco and fruit and vegetable cannery, milling and other industries. By production volumes and sale of products the sugar industry (9 sugar plants in the region) together with alcoholic and fruit and vegetable canning is the specialization industry of Ternopil Region in country and regional division of labour.

276 industrial enterprises are functioning in the region, where 40 thousand people are employed as well as 3,5 thousand small enterprises with 35 thousand employees. The largest enterprises of the region are follows as JSC "Vatra" (household and industrial lamps), JSC "Ternopil Combine Harvester Works" (sugar-beet choppers and fodder combine harvesters, agricultural equipment), JSC "Texterno" (yarn, cotton fabrics and crude fabrics), Ternopil Radio-Plant "Orion" JSC (radio communication systems, tape recorders, television aerials and motor-car acoustic systems), Ternopil State Scientific and Technical Enterprise "Promin" (aerials of satellite communication, television aerials and car spare parts). All these enterprises are located in Ternopil.

Only lately the facilities on production of confectionary and macaroni were put into operation as well as soft drinks, meat, cheese, filling stations, parking sites, trading premises and enterprises of public catering. Ternopil Region has the well-developed transport network. The density per 1000 square km of highways with hard surface and railways significantly exceed average indexes in Ukraine.

The foreign economic activity of the regional enterprise is carried out with 74 countries of the world. The Russian Federation (34% of the regional export), Germany (15%), Moldova (7%), Austria (4%), Poland, Turkey and Italy (3% respectively) are the main partners of the region in export. The drinks, alcohol, meat, sub-products and meat products, sugar, confectionary, cloth textile and knitting, wood, woodworks, furniture, lamps, glass and glass wares are prevailing in the regional structure of export deliveries. Germany (30% of the regional import), Italy (18 %) and Poland (15%) are the main importers of the region. The fuel-lubricating materials, machines, mechanical devices and equipment for industry, paper, cardboard, products of chemical industry (plastics, rubber, paints, varnishes and detergents), furniture, transport vehicles and other goods are prevailing in the import deliveries.

From the analysis of economic activity of Ternopil Region for the last years we see that the volumes of regional foreign trade are stably extended. In particular, in 2002 the regional foreign trade turnover by comparison with the previous year grew by 34% and made USD 116 million. The export exceeded import, and the positive balance made USD 17 million.

81 enterprises with foreign capital are functioning in the region. The sum of investments makes almost USD 28 million. The firms of Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Russian Federation, Republic Poland, and also Austria and Belgium are the main investors in the regional economy.

Ternopil land has all conditions for development of tourism and resort economy here. They established the Medobory reserve in the region and three regional landscape parks; 14 national and 103 local sanctuaries are functioning; there are 11 national and 380 local natural sights, 4 tracts; 9 dendrology parks, 13 parks – sights of gardening art and three botanical gardens. The greatest attractions for the tourists are Kremenets Mountains, Medobory, gypsum caverns, Dniestr River canyon and Kasperivsky landscape reserve.

The original landscapes can be found on almost 30 percents of the region's territory. They have undergone the least changed kind at the territories occupied with forests, bushes, swamps, on open areas covering near 16 percents of the region's territory. The natural complexes situated on the territories of natural reserves are the best-protected today.

The wonderful natural and recreation descriptions of Ternopil land, relatively favourable ecological situation, well-developed network of railways and highways in the region create good conditions for development of varied resort and sanatorium treatment and tourism.

Such writers as Bohdan Lepky and Ulas Samchuk, composers Denis Sichynsky, Roman Kupchynsky and Mykhaylo Gayvoronsky as well as Mykhaylo Verbytsky, author of national anthem tune, masters of chisel and tassel Mykhaylo Boychuk, Olena Kulchytska and Anton Manastyrsky, magician of stage Les Kurbas and prominent physicist Ivan Pulyuy have made an invaluable contribution to the national and world culture, science, literature and art. World-known singer Solomiya Krushelnytska, whose talent has conquered opera houses stages in Milan, Paris and New York, added to the land's glory.

The supplies of Ternopil land are inexhaustible as well as there are inexhaustible talents of wise, generous in good and inspired labour people of this original land. Without regard to various confusions of the present time the citizens of Ternopil Region believe in success of their management.

Kyiv is the political center of the country, where the residence of country leader – the President of Ukraine is located as well as Supreme Soviet of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Constitutional Court of Ukraine, and Supreme Court of Ukraine, central public authorities, diplomatic representatives of foreign states and representatives of international organizations in Ukraine. It is the spiritual, cultural, historical and scientific-educational center of Ukraine. The Kyiv Regional Council and Kyiv Regional State Administration and their executive authorities are also located in Kyiv as well as headquarters of political parties, offices of public and trade-union organizations.

With the purpose of harmonious development Kyiv with the diversified structure of economy needs solutions of great number of problems. The local authority aims to do a capital by the place of comfort residence of both its inhabitants so guests. The question is creation of business, office and tourist center with organization of infrastructure necessary for this purpose. Today Kyiv is the self-sufficient region of the country and the impartial statistics and economic indicators of the capital complex testify to it.

The capital confidently leads among other regions of the country by practically all basic industries. The permanent tendency of growth of major summarizing index of economic development – the gross value added has been achieved in Kyiv. The share of Kyiv in the gross value added of Ukraine annually grows and exceeds 11% today. Thus the number of city population makes only 5.4% of Ukrainian people.

In 2003 the industrial enterprises of Kyiv first for ten years overfulfiled the plan. Notably that the unemployment has been overcome in Kyiv and more than 19 thousand working places are offered today in the Kyiv labour exchange so the unemployment rate makes 0.43%. Annually the number of working places is increased in Kyiv. Only for the last time more than 14 000 working places were additionally created in the city.

The situation in capital construction industry especially impresses. Almost 1 000 000 square m of habitation is annually put into service, including 82 000 square m for persons enjoying privileges – invalids and participants of the Great Patriotic War, Afghan war and having many the children families. The habitation in the future will be put into service mainly in districts of active construction with the simultaneous providing their habitants with the objects of social infrastructure such as kindergartens, schools, centers of leisure and others. Except for construction of new buildings such urgent problem as repair of housing fund is being solved. The development of the programme of reconstruction of 50-60 years buildings and dormitories is completed. In fact there are 513 dormitories needed to be reconstructed in Kyiv.

Bessarbsky Quarter of the capital has been changed cardinally; the unique «Metrograd» and wonderful underground objects under Maidan Nezalezhnosti were built; the project of reconstruction of European Square is developed. It is important that the great part of charges on development of many Kyiv projects is undertaken by investors. Kyiv authority is learned to attract investments. 35% of total foreign investments in Ukraine are concentrated in Kyiv. The tendency to growth of investments is lasting. The realization of the strategy development programme of the city of Kyiv for 2011 will cost almost USD 350 billion by present exchange rate.

The USA is the main partner of Kyiv – up to 25-27% of the total investments in Kyiv. Holland, Great Britain, Austria and Germany are the main partners of Kyiv in Europe. The investments of these countries make from 4 up to 9% of total volume. The second position is traditionally occupied by Cyprus.

It is necessary to notice that the basic volume of investments in the middle and even at the end of 90th years was covered by lot and retail trade, sphere of services, and for the last two-three years the investing in construction business became the most popular in Kyiv. Thus there is not even in the real estate, but in production of construction materials.

The activity of the German Firm "Knauf" is a model.

USD 10 million was invested in the enterprise. The production of gypsum plasterboard, which can provide the demands of Ukrainian market, has been started. The enterprise trades with Moldova, Russia, Byelorussia and plans to be developed farther – to arrange production of dry mixtures. The same firm brought to Ukraine new technologies and now prepares shields for monolithic construction. The monolithic building is rapid and high-quality construction of original buildings.

Every day Kyiv becomes more attractive. Less than for two months the workers of the general contractor of reconstruction of the City and Mariyinskiy parks – the JSC "Trust №6 "Kyivmiskbud" reconstructed these parks into the real decoration of the city. The accurate green lawns, wonderful flower-gardens, paths laid by the yellow and grey tile, children's ground, renewed fountains, monuments and park sculptures is impressed greatly in these centers of rest. The opening in Kyiv of the first supermarket «Metro» became one of the last construction projects. The store was built for record short term (six months). Its area is more than 17 000 square m. Near-by there are two parking sites: indoor for 120 cars and ordinary for 700 cars. Over 400 Kyivers work in this supermarket. On the whole three such trading complexes will be built in Kyiv.

To become one of the best cities of Europe, it is necessary to develop the network of hotels, sport buildings, to revive sights of the Ukrainian culture and build new masterpieces so do its best for tourist attraction.

For years of independence the pearls of orthodoxy were revived in the capital of Ukraine such as Assumption Cathedral of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra and Mikhail's Golden Dome Cathedral, Alexander's Roman Catholic Church and Saint Nikolai's Church at Askold grave. The row of buildings, which became the real decoration of the city was constructed. Among them there are bank buildings at 115, Saksagansky Str., and 12, Tverska Str., housing complexes at 10 Sichneve Povstannya Str., between lanes of Bekhteriv and Kudryavskiy. The forming of principle new housing district in Obolon from the subway «Minska» to the embankment is lasting. The new stations of underground and overpasses were opened in Kyiv. It became possible because in Kyiv there are wonderful architects, able to solve the most complex town-planning, project and restoration tasks as well as builders able to make reality of architectural projects.

Up to 12% of investments in Kyiv are directed in transport industry, facilities of transport and new machines. The Orlantransgroup has the very strong positions in Kyiv. It has almost 150 large new trucks that enable to perform transportation with the countries of Western Europe.

The strategy of development of Kyiv includes the programme of ecologically dangerous productions (chemical and machine-building, enterprises working unprofitably or occupy production area inadequate to the volumes and others) taking away the city. Today, when in Ukraine there are regions specialized on manufacturing of similar products, to have the same production within the limits of Kyiv, to deliver raw material and components and to occupy storage facilities for this production is not purposeful. It is planned to take away these enterprises the ring road that will decrease the traffic of freight transport in the city. Besides the city industry will be developed on the base of innovation ecologically friendly technologies. It is planned to concentrate on priority development of food, light and pharmaceutical industries. The last one, by the way, provides 25% of income tax, covering only 5% in the gross production.

The special role belongs to the business in Kyiv. Only 14.5 thousand new working places were opened in the first half-year of 2003, and the subjects of small business paid 141 million hryvna to the budget.

The birth-rate is the most sensible barometer of standard of living of population. In Kyiv it has been substantially increased for the last time. The children's hospital was built in Pechersk. There are repaired existing and put into service new medical-prophylactic establishments. The out-patient clinics of family doctors appeared in Darnytsky and Desnyansky districts of the capital. The similar establishments will appear in four districts in the near future. For maintenance of medical-prophylactic establishments the money is allocated twice more than several years ago. The increase of wages to the nurses is planned. Everything that is done in this direction is united by the Programme "Health of Kyivers".

The schools of Kyiv are also reformed. There are traditional establishments, but the lyceums, gymnasia's and private educational establishments appear. The Programme "Capital Education" (2001-2005) is successfully executed. But not only pupil but also teachers need a care. The reward in the volume of salary (wage rate) has been introduced in Kyiv for teachers as well as material help at granting of annual vacation (salary); the bonus for length of service was set. There are also the bonuses to headmasters of educational establishments; the apartments are given to the teachers.

The Ukrainian Aviation Museum is created in Kyiv. The employees of the Kyiv National Aviation University began to collect exposition for the museum. Today there are over 40 aircrafts and more than 10 helicopters here. Each of machines is unique one. The employees of future museum are especially proud by the personal air transport of Marshal K. Ye. Voroshylov.

The actions of the city administration on sport development are impressed greatly. The capital authority pays attention to very eccentric projects also; so they recently declared about plans to conduct in Kyiv a carnival like Brazilian one. The capital of Ukraine is changed cardinally.

Vinnytsya Region created in 1932, is situated in the central part of the Right-Bank Ukraine and occupies 4.5% of its territory (26.5 thousand square km). On the south-western part of the region, down the River Dnestr, the state frontier of Ukraine with the Republic Moldova passes (202 kilometres). There are 17 cities, 30 settlements of urban type, 27 districts and 1467 villages in the region.

Vinnytsya Region is situated in the forest-steppe zone within the limits of the Volyn-Podil and Dnieper sublimity. Here the climate is moderately continental with soft winter and warm moist summer. From the north-west to the southeast the wide valley of the South Buh River is laying. Besides, 230 rivers with the length more than 10 kilometres each flow on the territory of Vinnytsya Region. They belong to the basins of the South Buh, Dnestr and Dnieper.

The region is rich in various minerals. It is iron, apatites, grenades, phlogopites and construction materials (facing stone, sandstones, limestones, sands, hoggin, raw material for production of brick and crashed stone); fluorite, copper, rare earth and radio-active elements (radon mineralization of medical waters from Khmelnyk and Nemyriv known beyond regional boundaries is connected with these elements), kaolin, bauxites, brown coal, peat and others. The bowels of Vinnytsya land are rich in mineral table and drinkable water as Shumylivska, Barchanka, Knyazhna and Regina. There is the prospect for opening of diamonds and gold deposits.

Vinnytsya Region has the multi-branch industrial complex, where the leading place is occupied by food industry, machine-building and metal-working. 478 large and medium enterprises of 13 branches of the industry operate in the region, including the enterprises of food industry make 50.0% of the total number as well as power engineering – 16.7%, machine-building and metal-working – 9%, light – 6.8%. 38 sugar and 14 spirit factories, 28 milk-processing enterprises, 6 meat processing and packing plants and 14 bread-backing plants make the basis of the food industry. The enterprises of the regional processing industry make following contribution to the All-Ukrainian basket as up to 15% of sugar, 20% of alcohol, 13% of meat, 7% of sausages, 8% of animal butter, cheeses, can foods, confectionary and groats. In 2002 the enterprises of food and processing industries produced the commercial products to the amount over 2 billion hryvna and that year they exported the food stuffs to the amount more than USD 120 million, or 54% of the general regional export.

The predominance in the regional industrial structure of food and processing industries testifies to the priority role of agriculture. Actually, Vinnytsya Region is the most Ukrainian producer of agricultural production. The region has a powerful sugar-beet complex and occupies leading positions on gross collection of cereals, potato growing, gardening and stock-raising. More than a half of fixed production assets is concentrated in the agroindustrial complex, besides more than a half (53.6%) of regional resident's lives in the rural locality. In the branch structure of agricultural complex the plant growing makes 61,6% as well as stock-raising – 38.4%.

By result of reformation of agrarian sector of economy in the region on the beginning of 2003 886 agricultural enterprises of market type were created, namely: 530 facilities, 150 private and private-leasing enterprises, 181 agricultural production cooperative societies and 25 other subjects of management activity. Then 1190 farm facilities began to function. They have almost 90 thousand of hectares of agricultural lands. 524 thousand private facilities provide (in comparable prices) 60% of the gross agricultural production, including almost 99% of potato, 90% of vegetables, 56% of fruit and berries, 84% of eggs, 74% of meat and 70% of milk. More than a half million of former members of the collective agricultural farms got the property to the amount of 1546 million hryvna.

The agrarian market infrastructure has been formed in Vinnytsya Region. The Vinnytsya Stock Universal Commodity Exchange, 26 agro-trading houses, 11 credit unions and 30 agricultural servicing societies function here. The receiving-purveying points work in almost all settlements. The service of price monitoring operates; the fairs on sale of agricultural production and auctions of living cattle are conducted; the infrastructure of wholesale markets is developed.

The processes of reformation of agrarian sector of the regional economy and their subsequent deepening, coming of private proprietor are main factors of the effective use of state support here and basis of trust to agrarian sector of commercial banks and investors, as well as basis of growth of production of agricultural goods and food.

In the agroindustrial complex there is co-operation of private agricultural enterprises with large and medium agroindustrial enterprises, which simultaneously are investors for agricultural producers. In 2002 more than 50 enterprises-investors worked on co-operative bases with 115 agricultural enterprises.

The production of almost all types of agroindustrial products is increased annually. The volumes of its export have been extended also. Now the share of agricultural raw material makes the one third – 33.6% of the total export, including meat – 15% and corn – 7.4%. On the whole the general export of commodities provided by the Vinnytsya enterprises stably exceeds import. The share of foreign trade volumes with the countries of CIS is almost 33.4%. The export volumes in the countries of CIS exceed by 3.5 times the volumes of import from these countries. The foreign trade partners of regional enterprises are on all continents; this is 94 countries or more than a half of countries-members of the UNO. Extending trading markets, the Vinnytsya enterprises firstly formed the trading relations with Andorra, Gibraltar, Iceland, Libya, Mauritania, Namibia, Grenada and Chile.

The realization of state policy in the regional field of export-import is co-ordinated by the Management of External Relations and Foreign Economic Activity of the Vinnytsya Regional State Administration. The Vinnytsya Chamber of Commerce and Industry is non state self-governing organization, which incorporates almost 120 actual members – leading enterprises and firms of the region of different forms of property, which are the subjects of entrepreneurial activity. The Chamber since August, 1996 is the provider of the network Internet assisted in particular to creation of electronic variant of the constantly operating exhibition «Business Vinnytsya Region».

Among exhibited structures there are so called small enterprises in this exhibition. The small business in Vinnytsya Region acquires more social and economic value. Taking into account employed people and those in the small business who are in labour relations with them directly, it is possible to say about more than 117 thousand citizens, and this is almost 14% of total regional population, occupied in all spheres of economic activity. And if in Ukraine for 2002 the number of small enterprises has been increased by 9.7% but in Vinnytsya Region this index made 24.7%.

All these factors create attractive investment environment in the region. The foreign investors from almost 30 countries of the world give advantage to processing industry, in particular food, chemical and light industries. The stimulation of investment activity is one of the strategic priorities of the Vinnytsya Regional State Administration. With this purpose it is foreseen to activate the business, to deepen liberalization of economy, to guarantee the rights of creditors and debtors, subjects of economic activity on property and implementation of contracts, protection of personality and fair court.

Vinnytsya Region has the well-developed transport infrastructure. The row of strategic routes passes through the region’s territory.

The cultural inheritance of the people is highly valued in the region. Under the governmental guard there are almost 3,5 thousand sights. These are unique archaeological sights of Trypillya culture, Nemyriv Scythian town, rock monastery in the village of Busha of Yampil district, museum-farmstead of Mykhaylo Kotsyubynsky in Vinnytsya, memorial farmstead and burial-vault of prominent surgeon, publicman and teacher M. I. Pyrogov. In Brayilov of Zhmerynka district the museum of P. Tchaikovsky has been created as well as in Voronovtsi of Vinnytsya district, in the former palace of inventor of the first aircraft O. Mozhaysky – the museum of history of aviation and cosmonautics.

In the market conditions the historical and cultural property also must provide profit, and the regional authorities understand it. The tourists are served by more than 40 organizations rendering services to the amount of many million hryvna.

The Vinnytsya history is the bright page of Ukrainian history. Exactly here, in Podil, there were formed the regiments by leadership of Bogdan Khmelnytsky and they conducted the national liberation fight. With Vinnytsya land there are linked the names of Ustym Karmelyuk, Oleksandr Suvorov, Ivan Kotlyarevsky, Lesya Ukrayinka, Mark Vovchok, Yaroslav Ivashkevych, Petro Tchaikovsky, Mykola Leontovych, Mykhaylo Grushevsky and Vasyl Stus. Vinnytsya land presented many prominent figures to our culture, science and art. The special place among the cohort of prominent Podil citizens belongs to Mykhaylo Kotsyubynsky, Ukrainian writer and publicman.

The rich historical inheritance of Vinnytsya land, agricultural, educational and cultural potential is the basis of its subsequent bloom.

Volyn is the ancient land that is stretched out in the basin of pictiresque south inflows of the Prypyat River and in the riverheads of the Western Buh River. The land, covered with the legends of ancient times, is glorified by monuments, which remind about the fight and bravery of our ancestors. This is a region of everlasting forests, groves and valleys, blue-eyed lakes, slow and rapid rivers.

The region has a favourable geographical position, located in the north-western part of Ukraine within the zone of Ukrainian Polissya. The area of the region makes 20.2 thousand sq. m. The number of population makes 1053.5 thousand people.

The regional mineral raw potential includes 578 explored deposits of mineral resources, in particular natural gas, coal, peat, sapropel, raw material for bricks and tiles, chalk, sand for construction works and production of glass, attrition and granular phosphorite, and building stone. The supplies of coal of the Volyn deposit have been fully explored. The Lokachynsk gas deposit was explored and is exploited now; its balance supplies make more than 7 billion cube meters of gas.

The agroindustrial complex is the leading regional industry, where almost one half of Volyn gross production output is formed. The collective gardening and market-gardening of inhabitants of cities and district centers is developing. The process of transformation of production cooperative societies into the private facilities is being proceeding.

The regional agriculture specialises in dairy and meat stock-raising, and also production of grain, sugar beets, vegetables and potatoes.

The industrial products are manufactured by 167 regional enterprises (including 137 enterprises of non state sector), which represent almost all leading industries. There are almost 40 thousand workers are employed in this sphere. The great payment in the regional economy is done by workers of processing industry (88%).

The leading regional enterprises are follows as public corporations as Lutsk Bearing Plant (exports 60% of products to more than 25 countries of the world), Elektrotermometriya (Lutsk, specialized on production of devices for contact heat flow measurements, cold and hot water, heat meters and others), Osnastka (Novovolynsk, has the unique equipment and produces machine-tools for production of engines, junctions for wind turbines), Kovelsilmash (manufactures the round link chains, machines and equipment for agriculture), Kivertsispetslismash (makes woodworking machine-tools for primary woodworking) and Lutsk Car Repair Plant (repair of engines, making of pistons and crankshafts).

The public corporations as Lutskplastmas (polymeric wares of household consumption, works on mastering of import substitution photopolymeric plates production for printing industry) and Polymer (specialized on making rubber technical wares) play important role in the chemical industry.

The public corporations as Volynholding (its products are known under the Trade Mark "Torchyn-Product"), Pavlivsk Brewery (except for a beer, the production of mineral water "Iodanka Pavlivska" that compensates the shortage of iodine in the human organism has been mastered here for the first time in Ukraine) and Rozhychshen Cheese Plant are leading enterprises of the food industry.

Besides, the Volyn products under the Trade Marks "Runa" (soft margarines), "Bonita" (macaroni) and PUP-Juice (canning products for children's food) are well-known in Ukraine.

The transport system of Volyn Region is represented by motor transport and railway. The row of strategic routes passes through the region’s territory such as Kyiv–Warsaw and Gdansk–Kyiv–Warsaw–Kovel–Odessa. The infrastructure of the regional transport provides all industries of economic complex, especially in the aspect of commodity exchanges with the boundary districts of Byelorussia and Poland.

117 enterprises and organizations, which construct objects of industrial, agricultural, housing and social-cultural purpose, operate in the regional building complex. More than 7 thousand persons are employed in the regional construction industry.

The infrastructure of trade and sphere of services of Volyn Region is represented by the network of shops, restaurants, cafes, dining-rooms, bars and the like.

Volyn Region has the well-developed banking network. The regional branch of the National Bank of Ukraine, three establishments of commercial banks – legal entities and 20 branches function in the region. The establishments of commercial banks of the region opened 273 separations.

The advantages of geographical location of the region promote the active development of the international cooperation. One of the main directions of activity of Volyn Region in the sphere of external relations is extension of boundary collaboration with adjoining territories of Poland and Byelorussia within the framework of the Euroregion «Buh» established in September, 1995.

The efforts of all participants of the Euroregion are concentrated upon the extension of trade and economic relations, in border development, creation of modern frontier infrastructure and modernization of transport network. The relations in the field of education, science, culture, territorial planning, self-government, environment protection and historical monuments are actively developing. The exchange by delegations of officials of state establishments and law enforcement authorities, research workers, students, pupils and representatives of youth organizations is constantly carried out. The Russian Federation, Poland and Germany are the main economic partners of the region.

The region has already accumulated the experience of work with foreign investors and various international funds, projects of international technical assistance. The region co-operates with the International Financial Institute (EBRD and GUF), programmes of the European Community TACIS and the World Bank.

In particular, for the last several years following projects were developed in the region such as programme of the UN Development «Support of Small and Medium Business in Ukraine», Programme of Regulation Reform within the framework of the BIZPRO Project, creation of network of the Business-Internet-Centers in cities of Ukraine. The development of the European Community Project «Improvement of Environment for Development of Small and Medium Business» has been started.

The dynamic development of sphere of small and medium business of different forms of property is the basis of structural transformations in the regional economy. Their total number steadily grows.

3.9 thousand small and medium enterprises (including 253 enterprises are joint ventures and their co-incorporators are legal entities and natural persons from 26 countries of the world), more than 28 thousand natural persons-businessmen operate in the regional business sector. The one tenth part of capable of working population of the region is concentrated in the small business; they produces more than 9.5 percent of products (works and services) and provides about one fifth part of incomes in budgets of all levels. 590 farm facilities function in the region. On the whole the small business of Volyn Region provides 65 thousand persons with work.

The Volyn State University, Lutsk State Technical University, Volyn Institute of Economy and Management, Lutsk Humanitarian University, Lutsk Biotechnical Institute, Lutsk Representative Office of the Open International University "Ukraine", 19 higher educational establishments of the І-ІІ levels of accreditation (including 4 branches), 20 vocational schools and 824 general schools function in the regional system of education.

The regional health protection sector is represented by 60 medical establishments and 152 out-patient clinics. The medical aid to the villagers is rendered by 813 feldsher-midwife stations. Due to attraction of additional facilities the network of cultural-education establishments of the region has been kept.

Volyn is the territory of wonderful and unique nature; therefore the region has powerful potential of recreation resources. The Shatsk National Natural Park with the largest and deepest lake of Volyn Region – the Svityaz is the most value for recreation. The lake is of cavern origin and fed with mighty springs, so the water in it has curative abilities and it is rich in compounds of silver, bromine and glycerine. This corner of Volyn is named by the pearl of Ukrainian Polissya. The powerful recreation potential is characterized by the Ozeryanska group of lakes and lake of cavern origin, located in the basin of the Turiya River.

Today the attraction of investments in development of green and domestic tourism, development of routes with attraction of territories of the neighbouring states (Helm District, Ljublin Province, Republic of Poland and Brest Region, Republic of Byelorussia) and evaluation of joint international tourist product offer nice prospects.

It is possible to familiarize with the rich historical and cultural inheritance of Volyn, visiting the Museum-Preserve "Cossack Graves", Memorial Complex in the village of Zaturka, created in honour of Vyacheslav Lypynsky, Museum-Farmstead of Prominent Poetess Lesya Ukrayinka in the village of Kolodyazhne, Historical-Regional Museum and Museum of Volyn Icon in Lutsk. The museum under the open sky in the village of Rokyni acquaints with development of agriculture and wood architecture in Volyn Region. More than 150 monuments of architecture are counted in the region. Among them there are the Zagorivskiy Monastery (ХVІ century), Lutsk Castle (ХІV century), Assumption Cathedral in Volodymyr-Volynsky (ХII century), Castle-Palace Complex (ХVІ-ХVІІІ century) in the village of Olyka and many others. All of it is our spiritual inheritance, which we are to save and increase carefully.

Zakarpattya is one of the most original corners of Ukraine. This is a region with the unique geopolitical and geographical location (covering the south-west part of the Ukrainian Carpathians and Dunabe lowland). Due to its geographical features Zakarpattya has been for long a convenient junction between the countries of Northern and Southern, Eastern and Western Europe.

The territory of Zakarpattya Region is 12.8 thousand square km. By administrative-territorial division this is 13 districts, 10 cities including three cities of regional submission. There are 608 settlements in the region on the whole. The number of population of Zakarpattya is 1.2 million people.

By the geopolitical location and natural-climatic features Zakarpattya has its specific. This is a sole region of Ukraine, which borders with four countries such as Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. 70% of its territory is covered by mountain and pre-mountain zones that conditions the uniqueness of natural landscape, rich and variety of resource potential of the land. The nature of this land is very picturesque and various: lowland is occupied with fields, lawns, orchards and vineyards; the gentle Carpathians' slopes are covered with forest, mainly beech trees.

Zakarpattya has the bowels rich in various minerals, including specific ones, typical only for Zakarpattya geological province. The mineral base of the region is represented by almost 150 deposits and more than 30 minerals.

The woods occupying more than a half of its territory are invaluable treasure of the region. The hard leaf (62.2%) and the coniferous (29.9 %) species of trees predominate in the natural structure of Zakarpattya woods.

The region is multinational. Ukrainians (78.4%) are the main and native population. Also Hungarians, Russians, Romanians, Slovaks and gypsies or representatives of more than 30 nationalities live in the wonderful land.

Zakarpattya Region has a complex historical background. Its territory has been populated for ages. The first mention about human life on the region’s territory dates at the early Palaeolithic (about 500 thousand BC).

Among the archaeological sights of the first half of 1st millennium AD there are in Zakarpattya well-known Carpathians' mounds. The scientists established that these were made by the ancestors of Slavic tribes of White Croatians. The wonderful natural pearl had known many lords. In ІХ-Х centuries the territory of Zakarpattya was comprised in Kyiv Russia. In ХІ-ХІІІ centuries and until ХХ century the present Zakarpattya Region territory belonged to Hungary or Austro-Hungary, in 1918-1919 to Hungary, in 1919-1939 was merged to Czechoslovakia and named "Transcarpathian Russia", in 1939-1944 returned to Hungary.

It is the youngest region of Ukraine. The liberation of Zakarpattya in October, 1944 and joining to the Soviet Ukraine opened the bright page in the history of this land. No doubt, all these events left deep traces in history and culture of Zakarpattya. There are 137 natural lakes on the territory of this land, 9429 brooks and rivers are flowing through it. Almost one fourth part of hydroenergetic potential of Ukraine is concentrated on the rivers, which provides the opportunity for development of small hydropower engineering.

These features determine originality of social-economic development of the region and colour of its traditions, way of life of people, its past and present. In the conditions of reformation of economic relations the accent is done on development of priority industries of economy such as timber and woodworking industry, light and food industries, development of boundary collaboration, recreation and tourism and others. The leading directions in timber and woodworking industries of Zakarpattya are production of furniture, timber plant, veneer sheet, parquet; in resin industry it is non-waste utilization of timber and products of its working. The modernization of enterprises and introduction of the newest technologies did possible the further extension of production volumes of furniture and their export.

The machine-building industry of Zakarpattya produces metal-cutting machine-tools, electric motors, valves, household gas convectors, gas meters and others. The regional food industry is highly developed, in particular production of wine, cognac, tinned fruit, soft drinks and mineral water.

The great attention is paid to subsequent structural development of national economy complex, attraction of national and foreign investments in the economy, development of small and medium business, and effective use of natural resource potential. The region leads in Ukraine by share of investments per capita. Today there are in Zakarpattya dozens enterprises, which attract national and foreign investments; they perform reconstruction and modernization of production and improve the competitiveness of their products on internal and foreign markets.

The high-quality new pre-conditions for regional economic development appeared with realization of conception of the free economic zone "Zakarpattya" and introduction of the special regime of investment activity of the region’s territory. Almost 400 enterprises with foreign investments were registered; over one thousand joint ventures operate; the JSC "Zakarpattya" and JSC "Autoport-Chop", which have not analogues in Ukraine, function here.

The foreign economic activity acquires the dynamic development. On the territory of Zakarpattya 17 check points through border to the countries of Western Europe function, including six international motor-car, four railway and three points of the simplified transition.

The processes of reformation are actively taken place in the agroindustrial complex. The significant changes in the structure of land-tenure took place. Though the region has not much land, however 50% of all agricultural lands are in property and use of citizens today as well as 46% in collective agricultural enterprises. The basic directions of activity in the village are traditional for Zakarpattya such as stock-raising, gardening, viticulture, corn economy and vegetable-growing.

The powerful natural-recreation and resort potential promoted that Zakarpattya has become one of the most popular places of rest and medical treatment of people. The mineral waters, including 360 springs are already explored, have unique medical and taste characteristics. 30 deposits of sub-thermal, thermal and high-thermal waters, mainly siliceous therms of chloride sodium composition create possibilities of their use both with medical-health and industrial purpose. The mineral and thermal waters by their chemical composition compare well with famous waters of Caucasus, Czech Republic and France. Taking it into account the number of plants on bottling mineral water with the use of highly productive technologies has been significantly increased.

Zakarpattya is the land with the ramified network of sanatorium-recreation establishments including 36 – sanatorium and 87– tourist. To services of lovers of mountain-skiing there are 40 operating ski-lifts. The well-developed network of sanatorium-resort complexes, tourist bases, unique mineral springs and thermal waters, and also beauty of the Carpathians nature attract tourists and holiday-makers in any time of the year.

The guests and holiday-makers are gladly met by 50 hotels (motels), four excursion bureaus and 56 subjects of entrepreneurial activity, which have a license to the right of tourist services granting. On the whole the hospitable Zakarpattya residents simultaneously can adopt up to 13 thousand holiday-makers in summer and up to 8 thousand in winter.

Among those, who, making health, taking forces and enthusiasm with good mention and intentions to come back here next year, leave Zakarpattya there are many thousand tourists from Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia and other countries.

Today Zakarpattya is the region with not only powerful economic and natural-resource potential. It is the land, which gave to Ukraine many outstanding scientists, prominent artists and talented masters of stage. The region is traditionally considered as a base in organization and conducting of many international and All-Ukrainian scientific and artistic forums. Four state higher educational establishments of higher form of accreditation function here; the network of general schools is well-organized taking into account interests and spiritual demands of representatives of national minorities; nine educational establishments of a new type were created. Five professional theatres, 659 club establishments and centers of leisure, four museums and regional philharmonic society function here. The Zakarpattya Regional Museum and Museum of Folk Architecture and Way of Life in Uzhhorod tell about the original historical-cultural inheritance of the region, as well as Mukachevo Historical Museum located in the medieval castle "Palanok". 1817 monuments of history, culture and art are counted in the region on the whole.

But the richest of this land is its hard-working, friendly, wise and talented people. They were famous by trade, generosity and rich of soul for ages. How skilfully they always put in order their dwellings, as want perfection, peace and consent in our general house. Come in this magic corner of emerald forests and mountain streams, in the land of hospitable and benevolent people and you make sure in this.

Zaporizhzhya Region is one of the impotant components of economic potential of Ukraine. For years of independence of our country the regional enterprises passed the difficult way of overcoming of economic crisis, deep reformation of property relations, structural and technological reconstruction, developing of new markets of sale and adaptation to the conditions of the market state of affairs.

12 years ago the majority of regional industrial enterprises performed the task of defense departments. It seems at first that it will prevent to re-orientation of production. However by results of the year 2002 the index of the regional industrial production by comparison with the year 1990 made 100,6% in the comparative prices. And the volume of industrial production is constantly extended here for already last seven years.

The ninth place in Ukraine by number of population, first place by industrial production volume per capita and third place by general industrial production volume in operating prices (after Donetsk and Dnipropetrovs'k regions) is the economic rating of Zaporizhzhya Region today.

The metallurgical and metal-working enterprises (40%) prevail among the industrial enterprises of the region as well as the machine-building enterprises make 21%, enterprises on production and supply of electric power – 21% and share of food industry – 7%.

The metallurgical complex remains the most important branch of heavy industry. The leader of metallurgy of Ukraine is the JSC "Zaporizhzhya Iron and Steel Works "Zaporizhstal". The International Iron and Steel Institute, IISI includes it in the top biggest 80 iron and steel works in the world. The share of this enterprise makes 69% in the branch in particular and 24% in the general regional volume on the whole. In 2002 the works provided 35% of internal market demands with steel production and the customers of the Zaporizhstal are pipe and machine-building enterprises.

The JSC "Electric Iron and Steel Works "Dneprospetsstal" named after O. M. Kuzmin is the unique Ukrainian manufacturer of high rolled stock plates and forged products from the special steel brands. The production of 800 steel brands has been mastered there, including more than 50 tool steel brands. For satisfaction of growing demand in tool and nonrusting steel the workshop of powder metallurgy was commissioned.

The JSC "Zaporizhzhya Ferro Alloy Plant" is one of the three powerful national manufacturers of ferro alloys and the monopolist on production of ferrosilicon and unique manufacturer of ferro manganese (80%) and manganese metal (90%) in Ukraine.

The share of Zaporizhzhya ferro alloy makers in production of their branch is almost 13%. The production has a stable demand on the national and foreign markets.

The JSC "Zaporizhzhya Aluminium Integrated Works" is the unique Ukrainian manufacturer of primary aluminium, alumina of metallurgical and special brands; alloyed aluminium alloys for motor-car and agricultural machine-building industries. The integrated works produces consumer goods also.

The Government-Run Enterprise "Zaporizhzhya Titanium and Magnesium Integrated Works" is the unique Ukrainian manufacturer of metallic spongy titanium. Its project capacity makes 20 thousand tons per year. The products are exported mainly to the Western countries. The enterprise covers 14% of sales volume of commercial products on the national market. The machine-building industry has the great importance in providing of sustainable social and economic development of the region. This is a biggest branch of the industry by number of workers (76 thousand persons). The enterprises of the branch provide more than 21% of the total regional industrial production volume.

The JSC "Motor Sich" is reliable and economic engines for aircrafts and helicopters. The enterprise masters new types of aviation engines for modern aircrafts as TU-334, AN-70, BE-200 and Yak-130. The industrial gas-turbine equipment and commodities of public consumption is produced also. By order of the Ministry of Industrial Policy of Ukraine the Motor Sich has been chosen as the main enterprise for implementation of actions planned in following sections as engine-building and helicopter-building within the Government Complex Programme of Aviation Industry Development of Ukraine till 2010.

The Joint-Stock Company with Foreign Investment "Zaporizhzhya Motor-Car Plant" is the most national manufacturer of passenger cars. The share of the enterprise in the general regional volume makes 10%. The plant is one of the main performers of the Government Programme of Further Development of Motor-Car Industry of Ukraine. Except for the output of traditional models and their new modifications, the transition to the mass production of the Opel and Mercedes cars is planned.

The JSC "Zaporizhzhya Transformer Plant" is one of the powerful specialized enterprises in the world on production, supply and maintain of practically all types of transformers of the general and special purpose. The Russian Federation covers about 24% of its total sales volume.

Lately the industrial enterprises of the region improved their social orientation. For seven months of 2003 by comparison with the proper period of previous year the output of non-food stuffs has increased by 2.3 times as well as food stuffs by almost 36%. The assortment of food stuffs makes about one thousand names. The production of the JSC "Brewery and Bottling Plant "Slavutich", JSC "Zaporizhzhya Oil and Fat Plant", JSC "Zaporizhzhya Confectionary", Pologivskiy Oil-Extraction Plant (Trade Mark "Slavia"), Zaporizhzhya and Melitopol meat-packing plants has sustainable demand on the national and foreign markets.

The higher concentration and passing ahead rates of development of industrial production of the region conditioned the row of problems. It is the high level of wear of fixed assets in the metallurgical complex (from 46% in the Zaporizhstal and Aluminium Integrated Works up to 82% in the «Dneprospetsstal» Plant). This index is higher in the machine-building industry: ZAZ – 53%, Motor Sich – 56%, Zaporizhtransformator – 61% and locomotive repair plant – 87%. So the ecological situation in the region is difficult.

The agroindustrial complex is the important component of economy of Zaporizhzhya Region. By production of grain the region takes tenth place among regions of Ukraine as well as third place by production of sunflower seed. The financial results of menage became better. Already the third year in succession the agricultural production of the region is profitable. The number of effectively operating agricultural enterprises has been increased by 70%. The intensive science-capacity technologies, hi-tech sorts and hybrids of agricultural crops are introduced; the new breeds of animals, resource conservation systems of agriculture and technical base are renewed.

By volumes of capital building investments the region takes the sixth place in Ukraine. For the last five years the fixed capital has been increased by almost 6.5 billion hryvna and the volume of capital assets put into operation in actual cost made 6 billion hryvna. For 12 years almost 3.7 million sq.m of habitation was put into service and so the habitation conditions for 60 thousand families have been improved. The Special Purpose Programmes as Rural Court and Available Habitation for Young Zaporizhzhya Family are under development; the apartments for servicemen are built. The objects of public utilities are put into service; the water and gas supply of rural districts is on; the social sphere is developed; the transport problems in the regional center are solved. The special attention is paid to gasification. At expense of all sources of financing 1.5 thousand km of gas networks and main gas pipelines were built for the last 12 months.

Zaporizhzhya Region thanks to the powerful industrial and scientific and technical potential, presence of natural resources, home energy resources, availability of markets of Ukraine and the CIS, well-developed transport infrastructure and banking system is one of the most investment attractive regions. It is enough only to mark that by volume of foreign investments the region takes the fourth place in Ukraine, and per capita makes $214 that considerably exceeds an average Ukrainian index.

The privatization is one of the head stones of market development of regional economy. For the last ten years 3389 enterprises changed the form of property here, including almost 70% are the objects of municipal property and more than 30% – state-owned property.

The small business is intensively developed. For the last three years the quantity of small enterprises made 10 thousand units (growth of 60%) and the number of new businessmen makes 75 thousand people nowadays. Almost 18% economic active population of the region is engaged in this sphere today. All these actions are subordinated to the main task – the increase of standard of life of population. It was succeeded to do the real steps on this way. For the last seven years the average monthly wage in the region has been increased by almost six times. In January-July, 2003 the average monthly wage in the region made 511.05 hryvna and this is bigger by 20% in comparison with the proper period of last year. The nominal wage in July, 2003 made 565.03 hryvna (third place in Ukraine after the city of Kyiv and Donetsk Region) that exceeds a living wage by 54.8%. The situation on the labour market is stable and under control. The registered unemployment rate as of 01.08.2003 made 3.2% against 3.4% at the beginning of the year.

All of this is only the small share of everyday selfless labour of Zaporizhzhya inhabitants for the sake of their future.

Zhytomyr Region (northern part in the area of Polissya and southern part in the forest-steppe) is located in central part of the East-European plain in the north of the Right Bank Ukraine in two natural zones.

Zhytomyr Region was established on September 22, 1937. This is one of the largest regions in Ukraine. Its area makes 29.9 thousand square km. The number of population in the region makes more than 1.3 million people.

The raw mineral-material potential of Zhytomyr Region is represented by 511 deposits of mineral resources, including more than 2000 deposits are presently developed. The Zhytomyr labradorite, pegmatites and quartzites are well-known all over the world; their deposits are unique. The Polissya semi-precious stone as beryl, topaz, quartz, red jasper, mountain crystal, tourmaline, amethyst, opal and many others have great demand.

Zhytomyr Region provides the demands of Ukraine in titanic concentrate. In the ore tract of land, except for titanium, there are rare earth elements as vanadium, scandium, thorium and hafnium. The region has large reserves of high-quality building stone with the beds throughout the region. The supplies of granite bed in favourable zones that enables to extract and process it in great volumes.

The Kuryaniv deposit of pyrofilite slates unique in Ukraine provides the demands of Ukraine in this mineral. The beds of phosphoric raw material of the Semygorod ilmenite-apatite deposit in Korosten district make more than 85% of total national supplies.

The region takes the first place in Ukraine by supplies of forest resources. Zhytomyr Region has 1.49 million ha of woods. The wood covered territory makes almost 35%, and in some northern districts of the region they occupy two third area of the land. The stocked timber makes more than 120 million cube m and its average annual growth is 2.6 million cube m.

Due to the advantageous geographical location and ramified network of motor roads and railways the region has a convenient transport communication with Kyiv, Lviv, Uzhhorod, Kharkiv, Odessa, Minsk, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and also with the countries of Western and Central Europe. The operating length of railways is 1106 km as well as highways of the general use – 8248 km.

With the purpose of investment attracting in priority industries of production, for saving and creation of new working places, introduction of modern technologies and development of foreign economic activity since January 1, 2000 on territories of priority development the regime of investment activity has been introduced; the life term makes 30 years.

The cities of Berdychiv, Korosten, Novograd-Volynsk, and also Volodarsk-Volynsk, Yemilchyn, Korosten, Lugyn, Malyn, Narodychi, Novograd-Volynsk, Ovruch and Olev districts are included in the structure of priority development territories.

The special investment regime is used for the subjects of priority development territories, which develop investment projects to the amount not less: USD 200 thousand – in agriculture, food and textile industry, wood working and making of wood wares, cellulose-paper industry, production of furniture, clothes and fur, health protection and education; USD 300 thousand – in construction; USD 500 thousand – in extractive and chemical industry, making of wares from mineral materials, output of machines and equipment.

The Law of Ukraine "On special regime of investment activity on priority development territories in Zhytomyr Region" foresees granting of tax and custom privileges such as exempt from import duty on materials, raw material, equipment and components for the period of five years and also from the value-added tax on equipment and components imported by the subjects of priority development territories in Ukraine exceptionally for development of investment projects; exempt from tax on development of investment projects for the period of three years. From fourth till sixth year inclusive this tax is paid in size of 50% of the operating rate of taxation; withdrawal of sum of registered investments as money, material and immaterial values from the gross company income; exempt from payment for land for the period of mastering of land plant (not more than 5 years).

The features of economic-geographical location and natural factors as ground-climatic conditions, raw mineral-material, wood and water resources create the favourable conditions for development of the diversified agricultural and industrial production on priority development territories.

The basis of industrial potential is made by food, extractive, chemical, porcelain and earthenware and woodworking industries, machine-building.

The extractive industry of Zhytomyr Region is represented by four enterprises. The SE "Irshan State Mining and Concentrating Integrated Works" conducts extraction and dressing of titanic ore, JSC "Ovruch Mining and Concentrating Integrated Works "Quartzite" and JSC "Mining and Processing Enterprise "Tovkachiv Quartzites" provide demands of national and foreign metallurgical enterprises as well as JSC "Kvartssamotsvity" executes extraction and processing of semi-precious stone.

The machine building and metal-working industry is represented by 15 enterprises. The JSC "Korosten Plant of Chemical Machine-Building", Berdychiv Machine-Building Plant "Progress", JSC "Rail" and JSC "L.M.S." and JSC "Prozhektor" manufacture chemical and cryogenic equipment, machine-tools, electrical engineering devices, apparatus for communication, special technological equipment, spare parts and junctions for cars and agricultural machines.

The chemical industry on priority development territories in the region is represented by following enterprises such as JSC "Yantar", JSC "Biovetfarm" and LLC "Novofarm-Biosynthesis". The greatest payment in industrial production is done by the JSC "YantarЄ. The main products of enterprises include varnishes, paints, drying oil, rosin and forage antibiotics, which has demand in Ukraine and is supplied abroad.

The porcelain and earthenware industry is represented by the Gorodnytsya Porcelain Plant and JSC "Korosten Porcelain Plant", which produce more than 60% of total regional crockery.

10 quarries, 7 crushed stone plants, 5 plants of reinforced concrete wares are functioning on priority development territories.

The food industry is represented by the enterprises of bakery, brewery and soft drink, meat and milk, milling, alcoholic and liqueur-vodka industries. The JSC "Berdychiv-Kholod", JSC "Berdychiv Brewery", LLC "Novograd-Volynsk Meat Processing and Meat Packing Plant", JSC "Ovruch Concentrated Milk Plant" and Lypnyn Spirit Factory are the leading manufacturers.

Among the enterprises of sewing, shoe and leather industries the most great payment is made by JSC «Arsaniya», JSC "Berdychiv Clothes Factory", JSC "Lesya", JSC "Malyn Sewing Factory" and JV "Reef-1".

11 state forestry enterprises manufacture wood wares. The JSC "Novograd-Volynsk" and JSC "Berdychivmebli" are the main manufacturers of furniture. The JSC "Malyn Paper Factory" is the traditional exporter of thin types of technical paper.

The agriculture is the highly developed industry in the region. There are leading industries both the traditional (growing of cereals and grain legumes, sugar beets, production of milk and meat) so flax cultivation and hop-garden. More than 120 agricultural enterprises grows hop and flax and provide 30 and 10% of the national production volumes of these crops respectively. From the beginning of introduction of the special regime of investment activity the Council of priority development territories approved 21 investment projects to the amount of USD 33.8 million investments, created and saved more than two thousand working places. 5 million hryvna is directed in the budgets of all levels.

The food, extractive and light industries, stone working is the main directions of investment attracting. The investment project of developing the Mezhyrechen deposit of ilmenite is being designed. The SE «Irshan Mining and Concentrating Integrated Works» studies this project. USD 1.2 million of investments was attracted; 111 working places were saved; the volume of production made 32.2 million hryvna.

The project of modernization of basic technological equipment and output of the extended gamut of quartzite factions is being developed. The JSC "Ovruch Mining and Concentrating Integrated Works "Quartzite" studies this project. There was mastered USD 1.6 million; there were created and saved 420 working places. The volume of production export made USD 8.1 million.

The project of production of malt is being developed by the LLC "Berdychiv Malt Company". There was attracted USD 364.4 thousand investments; 185 working places were created; the volume of production made 21.7 million hryvna.

The project of arrangement of the production of stone blocks is being developed by the SE "Labrogran" and JSC "Zhytomyrnerudprom". USD 500 thousand of investments was attracted; 31 working places were created; the volume of production made 1.2 million hryvna.

The project of investment attracting on modernization of production of garments is being developed by the JSC "Arsaniya". The volume of attracted investments made USD 400 thousand; 77 working places were created; the volume of production made 2 million hryvna.

The project on modernization of production of sausage and canning foods is being developed by the LLC "Novograd-Volynsk Meat Processing and Meat Packing Plant". 579 working places were saved; the volume of production made 10.8 million hryvna.

Zhytomyr residents see their happy future in the inspired labour for the good of their land.

The land area of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, their internal waters are defined under the Law of Ukraine "On the rights and freedoms of citizens and legal regime in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine" as temporarily occupied territories as a result of military aggression of the Russian Federation. The starting date of the temporary occupation is 20 February 2014.