A strategic session was held in Odessa focusing on the development of southern regions of Ukraine. 

The event was chaired by Deputy Minister of Community and Territory Development Oleksii Riabikin. 

Odessa's Deputy Mayor Hanna Pozdniakova also participated in the session. 

«Today's discussion is aimed at planning a future that considers the needs of people and the potential of regions. It's crucial to integrate regional plans into the national development strategy, which will create synergy for the country's recovery,» emphasized Oleksii Riabikin. 

During the session, participants addressed key issues facing the regions and identified priority directions for their resolution. 

For the Odessa region, the focus was on developing transport and logistics infrastructure, the agricultural sector, ensuring energy resilience, and modernizing the port industry. 

Significant attention was also given to modernizing social infrastructure, education, support for internally displaced persons (IDPs), accessibility, and social cohesion. 

«Odessa remains a bastion of resilience and development even in the toughest times. We are concentrating our efforts on infrastructure modernization, community support, and strengthening energy security. Strategic planning is not just about the future but also about our ability to adapt to current challenges and build a solid foundation for the recovery and prosperity of our region,» noted Hanna Pozdniakova. 

This series of events is supported by UNDP Ukraine and funded by the Government of Japan.