Agricultural sector will not be enough to make Ukraine 'prosperous' – Mykolaiv region head Kim

Vitaliy Kim, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, advocates for increasing production in southern Ukraine and predicts double-digit GDP growth for the country within 10 to 15 years under favorable conditions following the war.

In an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Kim explained that after studying the breakthroughs of 23 countries between 1970 and 2015, he concluded that the agricultural sector—which contributes no more than five to seven percent of GDP—cannot be the industry that leads Ukraine to prosperity. He emphasized that the only viable option is re-industrialization. According to Kim, simply restoring the light and heavy industry lost after 1991 is insufficient; a qualitatively new strategy is required to achieve double-digit GDP growth over the next decade or more.

Kim stated that he supports the development of industrial parks and the provision of certain preferences to businesses to help them get established, particularly new production facilities. He noted that the correct marker for socially responsible business is tax contributions and job creation, which lead to growth. Furthermore, the head of the Mykolaiv regional administration stressed the need to import technologies from global leaders, specifically mentioning Hyundai and Posco. He argued that Ukraine must offer appropriate conditions to attract such companies, which would lead to technology implementation, workforce training, and expanded business activity.

Regarding the timeline for the war, Kim suggested that if the peace track is activated by August, there is a chance for the conflict to end this year; otherwise, it will continue into the next. He expressed hope that the efforts of the President of Ukraine and the negotiating team will lead to a diplomatic settlement, allowing the country to focus on reconstruction.