City Council to consider economic priorities of Mykolaiv: Hope for youth, tourism, donors and port development

Mykolaiv's seaports have been closed for more than three years, since the start of the full-scale war, photo by Anna Orlova, Google Maps

The Mykolaiv City Council is relying on the work of ports, tourism, and donors to define a strategic vision for economic development of the city for the next three years.

This is stated in the Mykolaiv Budget Forecast for 2026-2028, the draft of which has been published on the official website of the city council and is proposed for approval by the deputies.

It is worth noting that the 2025 budget envisaged that about 60% of Mykolaiv's budget revenues would come from taxes and personal income taxes.

The document states that the strategic priorities of the community's development include the growth of a competitive economy through the modernisation of logistics and transport infrastructure, including ports. It is worth noting that due to the full-scale war in Ukraine, Mykolaiv's ports have been blocked for four years.

Attracting international technical assistance for the implementation of key projects, developing science and innovation, and finding partners for strategic and spatial planning were also named as important tasks.

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It is noted that today Mykolaiv is implementing a portfolio approach to development, within the framework of which a number of large-scale innovative projects are being formed, focused on the transition of the economy to «blue» and «green» models. Among them:

• revitalisation of a shipyard;
• support for the transformation of small and medium-sized businesses;
• creation of an industrial park;
• launching the «Water Palace space».

«An extremely important task is to create conditions for the development and self-realisation of young people in the community. After all, young people are the driving force behind post-war reconstruction and development. Involvement in the reconstruction of the city should begin with a sense of the need for their own participation in this process, with a vision of their role and scope of activity, and most importantly, to receive tangible results from their work», the Mykolaiv Budget Forecast says.

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Another factor in economic growth after the war is the development of tourism. The Budget Forecast notes that each tourist is a source of funding for the local economy, contributes to improving the image of the community and building its recognition both at home and abroad.

Earlier it was reported that the Mykolaiv City Council told how they support business during the war: entrepreneurs are interviewed through Google forms, collect problematic issues and help them join grant programmes.

As a reminder, Denmark will allocate about EUR 224 million to restore Mykolaiv region as part of a new support programme for Ukraine. The main focus will be on rebuilding the region's infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of Mykolaiv.

What about Mykolaiv's ports?

Earlier, Vitalii Kim, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, said that before the full-scale invasion, the ports of Mykolaiv region played a key role in the region's economy, accounting for about 40% of its gross regional product.

Prior to the full-scale invasion, four major seaports were actively operating and developing in Mykolaiv: Prior to the outbreak of war, there were four seaports in the region: Mykolaiv Commercial Sea Port, the specialised port of «Olvia» (formerly «Oktiabrsk»), «Nika-Tera» and the Dnipro-Bug Sea Port. A significant portion of Ukraine's exports, including agricultural products, metals, and industrial goods, passed through these ports. Among the companies operating in the ports were Bunge Ukraine, Nibulon, COFCO Agri Ukraine, and Glencore Agriculture.

In addition, the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant (MAP) was one of the largest enterprises in the region, employing about 5,000 people. The plant produced up to 1.7 million tonnes of alumina per year, much of which was exported through the port. After the outbreak of war, the plant's operations were suspended, and the number of employees was reduced to 400 people who support critical processes and infrastructure.

The Russian army's occupation of the Kinburn Spit and constant shelling from its territory have significantly affected shipping in the region. The Kinburn Spit is strategically important as its location allows for control of shipping routes, including access to the Dnipro-Bug Estuary. Russian troops use this area to shell the southern districts of Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. This further complicates the recovery of the region's economy and makes it impossible for ports to operate properly.