Industrial Parks – growth hubs for the economy, says agrifood entrepreneur Boris Shestopalov

On September 26-27, industrial leaders, government representatives, members of international business organizations, and professional associations discussed the development of Ukraine's industrial potential during wartime at the Vinnytsia Industrial Forum. The special partner of the event was Volia Agri-Food Park Vinnytsia (www.volia-agrifood.com), which focuses on advancing Ukraine's agrifood industry.

Located in Vinnytsia, the agrifood park offers modern, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly infrastructure for food enterprises and related sectors. Recently, the park received state funding of 116 million UAH under the “Made in Ukraine” policy, which will not only enhance the infrastructure but also increase investment attractiveness for businesses looking to relocate food production from frontline areas and expand export opportunities.

"I view industrial parks as key growth points for the Ukrainian economy and an effective tool for its reindustrialization. These parks create new infrastructure using the latest energy-saving and energy-efficient technologies, while also providing certain incentives and support for such projects from both the government and international financial organizations, presenting various opportunities and long-term prospects. Given the shortage of funds and labor, it is challenging, albeit desirable, to transform all of Ukraine into a priority development zone. Therefore, such parks, where opportunities and resources are concentrated, can serve as growth platforms.

A large number of Ukrainian enterprises are repurposed or modernized facilities that have existed since Soviet times. Their only path to development is to create competitive products for export to foreign markets. Thus, establishing a business within an industrial park allows for better forecasting of the final product's cost based on the use of cutting-edge technologies, automation, and reduced energy costs. Consequently, HD-group is also carefully considering the opportunity to build several enterprises within the industrial park. This isn't just relocation; it's about creating entirely new products that must meet the growing demands of modern consumers. This includes developments in functional foods, shelf-life considerations, and products based on organic raw materials, among other projects. As national consumption declines, the establishment of new HD-group enterprises is primarily linked to the development of export potential. All calculations are based on the foundational idea of proportionally distributing products for the domestic market and promoting them in external markets," commented Boris Shestopalov, speaker at the Vinnytsia Industrial Forum, ideologist of Volia Agri-Food Park Vinnytsia, and co-founder of HD-group.