Mykolaiv region is leader in business recovery, we are working on stable rules for it – Kim
Vitaliy Kim, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, stated that he can ensure conditions for business operations in the region due to attention from the central government, but he is working to make these rules permanent.
In an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, Kim emphasized that business primarily needs rules that remain unchanged for at least five to ten years. He noted that systemic projects and social engineering cannot be implemented within a single five-year political term, requiring a set strategy instead. Kim stated that he currently guarantees stable rules for business through cooperation with central authorities, but his goal is to create a lasting system that survives leadership changes and elections.
The head of the regional administration highlighted that Mykolaiv is ranked first in attracting investment and working with international partners, excluding Kyiv. He explained that procedures for international partners have been made transparent and fast, leading many to prefer Mykolaiv because projects move quickly. While Kim personally oversaw projects during the first year, a self-sustaining system now exists with seven major international cooperation centers and specialists in every community managing their own partnerships and programs. Kim noted that local teams handle everything from project concepts to procurement, ensuring autonomy and transparency.
Kim also reported that the Mykolaiv region leads in business recovery, though this is significantly driven by activity from displaced entrepreneurs from the Kherson region. While 1,078 enterprises moved or stopped working since 2022, 940 have resumed or newly opened. He observed that while large companies often left, smaller businesses—and some notable large entities like Monobank—have moved in and are paying taxes in the region. He described the business activity of people from Kherson in Mykolaiv as very high, mostly within the small and medium-sized business sectors.
The main challenge identified by Kim is the loss of markets and specialists who move to safer regions where their skills are in high demand. He cited an example where nearly 50% of the staff from one large local enterprise was recruited for a state production project in western Ukraine. While these specialists contribute to the country’s needs, their departure represents a significant challenge for the continued development of local production in Mykolaiv.
