The leadership of the Zakarpattia Regional Council together with representatives of the Austrian firm PKF and Mukulan & Compagnons discussed the prospects for cooperation in the tourism, recreation and transport sectors of the region.
The meeting focused on the development of the region, which is based on expanding the capabilities of Uzhhorod airport. It is about developing the areas around the airport with a view to building business centres, offices, exhibition centres, conference halls, tourist centres and space for IT, Fin-tech, hi-tech workers, etc.
To this end, the company is looking for investors among major European and global financial institutions. The latter, however, have their own requirements, including the use of energy-saving technologies in construction.
According to the guests, the airport in Uzhhorod can become the "backbone" of the region's development. The first step is to develop a concept that would envisage a chained, gradual and interconnected development of the surrounding areas.
In turn, Volodymyr Chubirko, the head of the Zakarpattia Regional Council, stressed that the skies over Ukraine are currently closed, so the airport, although it has a permit, is not actually operating to transport passengers. He also noted that, in fact, the Uzhhorod airport, which is a municipal enterprise of the regional council, begins in Ukraine and ends in Slovakia. Currently, there are many ideas for its launch, including completion on the Slovak side, signing an agreement on its lease or concession.
Volodymyr Chubirko also noted that the fact that the land and buildings around the airport are privatised may hinder the implementation of large-scale projects around the airport. Therefore, there may be problems with construction.
In addition, we understand that the largest amount of taxes paid by companies located around the airport will go to the state budget, 25% to the city budget, and only 15% to our regional budget. Therefore, in my opinion, the state and the city should support the airport in the same proportion. Meanwhile, this structure is entirely maintained by the region.
The head of the regional council also rightly noted that the idea of developing the Uzhhorod International Airport and the areas around it could be developed only after the Ukrainian military authorities give permission for its full launch.
The press service of the Transcarpathian Regional Council
