Amalgamated hromadas in Ukraine are kind of “greenhouses”, where small and medium-sized business receives favourable conditions for growth. That is why communication work in hromadas, including with business entities, is very important. This idea was emphasised by Benedikt Herrmann, First Secretary, Policy Officer for Decentralisation and Sectoral Reform, Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine, during the training seminar in Kyiv on “Coverage of local self-government activities on the official website, in the media, in social networks: methods, techniques and technologies,” Ukrinform reports.

“When I talk to small and medium-sized business representatives that work in new hromadas, I get positive feedback. They say that it's really good. That is why amalgamated hromadas are the “business hub” and “greenhouse” for small and medium-sized business to grow normally. And here the role of communication is very important,” he said.

According to Mr Herrmann, he is a fan of Ukrainian decentralisation: “Three years ago no one expected such a tremendous progress. This is a fact.”

The European diplomat noted that AH leaders should make the most of the new tools they have received, and pay particular attention to the development of small and medium-sized business. “You – local hromadas – can help small and medium-sized business. Decentralisation is one of the main impetus for business development at the local level,” said Benedikt Herrmann, addressing the representatives of local authorities present at the event.

He also noted the importance of communicating with the diaspora abroad for hromadas’ development. “Diaspora is the golden capital of any hromada,” the diplomat stressed, pointing out the importance of engaging Ukrainians abroad to establish business contacts with foreign partners, organising various projects and programmes, direct investments in the hromada, etc.

The First Secretaryof the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine for Decentralisation and Sectoral Reform also said that even more representatives of European small and medium-sized business became interested in investing to the country within the decentralisation process. “Representatives of small and medium-sized business from the EU countries start being interested in the possibilities of developing their business in Ukraine. They understand that an AH is a particularly interesting place for investment, because it is a potential for a new partnership,” he mentioned.

Speaking about ways to build communication in hromadas, the European diplomat urged Ukrainian representatives to be creative, not always copy someone else's experience and look at their own realities. “You, Ukrainians, introduce such interesting innovations that we do not have. Do not always try to take over what we have. There is no such thing as Prozorro in the world, the healthcare reform and electronic user’s account – I would be glad if we had this. Urban Space in Ivano-Frankivsk – again, it's a Ukrainian feature… And that's why our examples should not be copied a lot, you should be innovative. Perhaps, you will introduce some new forms of communication,” he said.