Kyiv bridges stopped in traffic jams. In addition to current and capital repairs, complicates the situation regular morning and evening migration of about 40% of Kyiv residents from the left bank to the right bank. According to forecasts of transport experts, by 2025 the average Kyivite will spend 4 hours on the way to the office and back home. Just imagine – the sixth part of the day will go on a slow stretch in a nervous traffic.
Let’s imagine how we can make a difference. My proposal is to create on the left bank an analogue of a free economic zone. Developers will receive preferences in the form of cancellation of land rent, free access to infrastructure networks and the right to independently decide what to build – housing, office or shopping centers, retail parks or logistics real estate. Residents of the left bank will get new jobs near the house, developed infrastructure and a completely different quality of life.
Today, out of almost 200 residential complexes built in Kyiv, a little less than 50 are being built on the left bank. At the same time, there are only 4 professional business centers on the left bank. So why the city authorities do not push the development of these areas? Opinions that the left bank is not Kyiv, may leave the past, and modern objects will appear on the site of the old regions, which will show that due to the revitalization of existing territories, it is possible to create high-quality and attractive projects.
A few years ago, was discussed the idea of creating an industrial park “Kyiv Business Harbor”. It provided for the construction of a cluster that would consolidate the industrial and commercial capacities for local production in Kyiv. It was planned to prepare town planning documentation, make land acquisition and organize a road show to search for investors, and in 2018 the project was even presented at the international exhibition of investment projects MIPIM.
But since then, the development of the object again stalled. But this is a real investment project that, in addition to attracting investment, will create tens of thousands jobs, balance the infrastructure in both parts of the capital and of course transform the look of these territories. This or similar projects can absolutely become to Klondike – a free economic zone with a developed infrastructure, high-quality public spaces, locations for study, work and leisure. The whole progressive world works where it lives and lives where it works. We should adopt the world experience and begin to equip and develop the space around us.
Since then, almost fifty objects have been launched in Ukraine. But are they real industrial parks in their essence? Where is government support, interest-free loans, tax breaks and preferences, or at least banal provision of the site with engineering networks and communications? This is just not there. In the Verkhovna Rada that year, several bills gather dust to restart the industry and make it functioning and attractive for investors, both Ukrainian and foreign. Is this our goal?
Implementing this beautiful fantasy into reality still does not allow Ukrainian legislation. The first law “On Industrial Parks” was adopted in 2012. Since then, almost half of the objects have been launched in Ukraine. But are they real industrial parks in their essence? Where are government support, interest-free loans, tax breaks and preferences, or even a banal provision of land with engineering networks and communications? In Parliament a few years there are several laws that allow restart sector and make it truly functioning and attractive to investors – both Ukrainian and foreign. Do not we all dream about it?
Andrіy Ryzhykov, СEO and managing partner of DC Evolution