Kryvyi Rih 250: International conference outlines new priorities for the region’s post-war development

 

The conference was organized at the initiative of the Executive Committee of the Kryvyi Rih City Council and the Kryvyi Rih Raion Military (State) Administration with the support of the project “Support for the Recovery of the Kryvyi Rih Raion”. This project is funded by The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, Proman and the Business Development Fund.

 

Participants explored the key priorities shaping the region’s future development strategy: infrastructure modernisation, energy resilience, economic recovery, innovation, agricultural development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthened institutional capacity of local communities. Throughout four panel discussions, speakers outlined both challenges and opportunities — from the transition to renewable energy and new agricultural models to building an enabling environment for innovation and startups.

 

Paolo Cervino, Head of Global Programmes at LuxDev, emphasised the strategic value of the partnership between Luxembourg and the Kryvyi Rih region. He noted that despite the relatively short implementation period, the project is already delivering tangible results thanks to the active engagement of local authorities and clearly defined development priorities.

 

Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Artem Rybchenko highlighted the region’s role in the national recovery agenda and the importance of international support:
“Kryvyi Rih continues to demonstrate resilience and the ability to move forward even in the most difficult conditions. This is practical cooperation that lays the foundation for Ukraine’s recovery as a whole,” he noted.

 

At the same time, Serhii Miliutin, Deputy Mayor of Kryvyi Rih, noted that the project and the conference aim not only to rebuild infrastructure but to drive systemic modernisation:
“We are not simply returning to the pre-war status quo. We are building a new quality of life — transparent, innovative, and modern. The partnerships formed here are creating the foundation for future growth across the entire Raion,” he said.

 

One of the key outcomes of the conference was the presentation of the concept of the regional growth pole — a framework designed to help communities and partners jointly define priorities for investment, infrastructure development, economic diversification, and innovation. Participants expressed readiness to contribute to its development, propose new initiatives, and strengthen partnerships that will ensure sustainable growth of the Raion in the coming years.

 

The team of the KRYTSIA: Support for Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project also presented core results and outlined next steps — from modernising energy infrastructure and advancing contemporary education to launching new programmes for businesses, vocational schools, and youth. In 2026, the project will be expanded to include, among other components, a dedicated mental health stream and further support for local initiatives.

 

The Krivyi Rih 250 conference became an important platform for dialogue where authorities, businesses, international partners, and communities came together around a shared vision — to transform the Kryvyi Rih Raion into a regional growth pole built on transparency, innovation, and European approaches to development.