Coastal zones, ASC and business: The main areas of cooperation between Mykolaiv and the city of Aalborg

In June 2022, a rally in support of Ukraine took place in Aalborg. Photo: Viktor Osypenko

Foreign cities have become a reliable support and support for their Ukrainian «brothers», they are ready to share with us all the difficulties of the war and post-war times.

During this time, Mykolaiv received a reliable partner in the form of Denmark, which not only condemned Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, but also sent humanitarian aid to the city and the region, participated in the resolution of issues related to heat supply, water supply, the development of the Mykolaiv General Plan and the reconstruction project. In general, Denmark provided materials for the restoration of infrastructure in Mykolaiv and the region for a total amount of 75.5 million euros.

Moreover, on May 26, 2023, the Mykolaiv city government signed a Memorandum of Understanding and establishing a solidary partnership with the Danish city of Aalborg. The document envisages cooperation in economic development, construction, and implementation of green technologies.

Online meeting of Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovych with Aalborg Mayor Thomas Kastrup-Larsen

Online meeting of Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovych with Aalborg Mayor Thomas Kastrup-Larsen

Read more about the projects on which the sister city of Aalborg and Mykolaiv authorities are working in the article NikVesti.

Earlier, the Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine, Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, compared Mykolaiv with the city of Aalborg, which is located in the north of Denmark, noting the similarity in the winds that blow and the industrial potential of both cities.

Aalborg is the fourth largest city in Denmark, economically Aalborg is known as a port industrial and commercial center as well as a center of higher education, making it attractive for students. The place is also defined as an ecologically oriented city with a lot of green areas and bike paths.

The city of Aalborg

— Before the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, few people in Denmark had heard of the southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv. But the situation changed, as Denmark was assigned a special role in the restoration of the city. But what is this city and region that receives help from Denmark? Over the past three years, I have been there several times, and here are my impressions: Mykolaiv is an industrial city, beautifully located in the delta of two rivers that flow into the Black Sea. Shipbuilding cranes and industrial chimneys are characteristic of the city skyline. The city is traditionally considered the center of the shipbuilding industry and is known as the «city of ships». Around the city — fertile agricultural land — at this time of the year there are fields of wheat and rape. To me, a Dane, this city reminds me of the city of Aalborg in the north of Denmark. As in Northern Jutland, the winds blow here, — noted the Ambassador of Denmark to Ukraine Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, explaining why President Zelenskyi in his address to the Parliament of Denmark suggested that this country should help Mykolaiv.

Almost half a year has passed since the signing of the partnership agreement between Mykolaiv and the Danish city of Aalborg, and during this time concrete projects have been formed on which representatives of the Mykolaiv city government and representatives of Denmark will cooperate together.

In general, the emphasis of cooperation is on «soft» projects: effective use of the coastal zone, improvement of the quality of administrative services and business development.

Director of the Department of Economic Development of Mykolaiv City Council Tetyana Shulichenkoo

Tetyana Shulichenko, director of the Department of Economic Development of the Mykolaiv City Council, told NikVesti that European experts divide projects into «soft» and «hard» projects based on the object of investment activity. The Danish government helps Mykolaiv and the region with «hard» projects that require investment, which include infrastructure, houses, pipes, communications, and the city of Aalborg is responsible for «soft» projects, that is, those aimed at the development of civil society. Read also the article NikVesti about the help Mykolaiv receives from Denmark.

— We have signed only one agreement on cooperation with a Danish city. During our visit to the Congress of Architects, we met with representatives of the sister city of Aalborg. We discussed specific projects on which we will work, so that they could later help us implement them in the city. We will also focus on developing recommendations for the city that are needed to restore and revitalize our industrial heritage to make it more attractive for business. And taking into account the fact that they have slightly different legislation, we also plan to develop recommendations that will be submitted to people's deputies so that we can develop the coastal zone in Mykolaiv, — the official said.

Development of urban coastal and port areas of Mykolaiv

The city of Aalborg has a very developed coastal port area, which they harmoniously use for business and leisure, and there is also residential construction there. Therefore, the first project that the city of Mykolaiv and the city of Aalborg is working on is the development of the use of the city's coastal areas for the benefit of citizens, businesses and the municipality, since Mykolaiv has 128 km of coastal zone, which is currently being used inefficiently.

Today's coastal and port areas, historically associated with naval and shipbuilding, have great potential to transform into modern areas for recreation, housing, marinas, tourism and innovation. Therefore, the project primarily involves the development of infrastructure for the mixed use of these territories.

— Cooperation with Danish partners can bring additional experience in planning and management of urban territories, — adds Tetiana Shulichenko.

Mykolaiv «from a bird's eye view». Photo: Oleksandr Minyayl

Mykolaiv «from a bird's eye view». Photo: Oleksandr Minyayl

The city's coastal and port areas have enormous potential in terms of future economic development and support of Mykolaiv's vision to «rebuild better than it was». Therefore, the project envisages work on changes to the legislation and regulatory acts regarding the transfer of ownership of land to the city council in order to ensure the full development and use of these territories in the interests of the community.

— Some parts of the city's coastal territories belong to other Ukrainian bodies, which means that the city cannot develop these territories in accordance with its interests. For example, the case with the old shipbuilding plant in Mykolaiv, which is now state property, but can become an excellent basis for a new development project, — the official said.

The main goal of the project is to provide an opportunity to discuss and substantiate ways of revitalizing the coastal areas of Mykolaiv for the benefit of the community, business and city government, as well as to support the efforts of the municipality in improving Ukrainian legislation in this direction. Special attention will be paid to the restoration of the old shipyard, an object that can become a key center of future development.

Improving the provision of administrative services for citizens

Mykolaiv strives to develop and digitize the provision of public services to citizens. In particular, after the Russian aggression, there was a need to create new service centers (ASC — Administrative Services Center) and introduce a higher level of digital services

Administrative services center in Mykolaiv

Administrative services center in Mykolaiv

— We want to improve the quality of administrative services and make them more comfortable for citizens. It is also planned to provide separate services for military personnel at the Central Military Academy, — Tetiana Shulichenko said.

The partnership with the Danish city of Aalborg will provide Mykolaiv with the opportunity to adopt experience and best practices in the digitization of administrative processes. Aalborg will serve as an example not only in the implementation of new technologies, but also in the development of programs to increase digital literacy among the population.

Support of local entrepreneurship and investment

Before the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia on the territory of Ukraine, Mykolaiv was one of the most industrialized cities of Ukraine. About 6 thousand industrial enterprises worked in the city, including: 5 large, 186 medium and 5.8 thousand small ones. However, the invasion led to a decline in economic activity in Mykolaiv and negatively affected the city's business and investment conditions.

According to the data of the State Department of Internal Affairs and Communications in the Mykolaiv region as of July 1, 2023, the number of legal entities is 24,984, and the number of individual entrepreneurs is 27,480.

— Mykolaiv needs strategic steps to restore its economy. Cooperation with the Danish city can help in building effective models of municipal entrepreneurship and attracting investments, — the official emphasizes.

According to Tetiana Shulichenko, the project is aimed at creating favorable conditions for the business environment, development of new enterprises and attraction of foreign investments. Mykolaiv can use Danish experience in planning and supporting local entrepreneurship.

«I am sure that after our victory, together with Aalborg, we will be able to implement many joint projects and establish strong friendly ties between our educational institutions and youth centers,» — the mayor of Mykolaiv shared earlier.

In general, the cooperation between Mykolaiv and Aalborg can become an example of an effective partnership in the implementation of strategic projects aimed at the development of cities and improving the quality of life of their residents and promoting the integration of the city into the international economic space.

Alina Kvitko, NikVesti