The State Fund for Regional Development is an effective decentralisation instrument and incentive for regional, infrastructure and social development. It is proved by the fact that in 2017, at the national level, a record amount of funds – almost UAH 1.17 billion – was used from local budgets to co-finance investment projects of regional development within the framework of the SFRD. This is more than 33% of the total funding by the SFRD, which last year amounted to UAH 3.5 billion. At the same time, a mandatory guaranteed co-financing from local budgets for the projects with the SFRD is 10%, said Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine. 

He informed that 790 investment programmes were launched within the framework of the SFRD in the regions of Ukraine in 2017. “399 objects were completed and put into operation, including the construction and reconstruction of social facilities (hospitals, schools, kindergartens), restoration of bridge infrastructure, thermo-modernisation, etc. Most facilities were completed in the Ternopil (44), Sumy (44), Zakarpattya (41), Chernihiv (33) Oblasts. In addition, regions have the opportunity to continue projects launched earlier. For the third year in a row, we are implementing a policy according to which the projects launched with the funds of the SFRD must be completed and put into operation, instead of being transformed into long-term construction projects,” said Hennadii Zubko.

“In 2018, we increased the SFRD funding to UAH 6 billion. The regions have almost doubled opportunities and resources for infrastructure development. And we already see which oblasts are actively preparing their projects for this purpose. Thus, the Poltava and Kharkiv Oblasts have already submitted their proposals and investment programmes that they plan to implement in 2018,” said Hennadii Zubko.

The Vice Prime Minister also reminded that the Government has recently approved the draft laws developed by MinRegion, that enable to finance projects in the next budget period, simplify procedures for access to the SFRD resources, accelerate and provide stable funding of regional development projects. These are namely the draft laws “On Amendments to the Law on the Principles of State Regional Policy” and “On Amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine Improving the Mechanism of Regional Development Funding”.