Industrial Parks: Platforms for Economic Growth, Says Agri-Food Entrepreneur Borys Shestopalov.

On September 26–27, industrial leaders, government officials, and members of international business organizations and professional associations convened at the Vinnytsia Industrial Forum to discuss the development of Ukraine's industrial potential during the ongoing war. The event was supported by Volia Agri-Food Park Vinnytsia, which is focused on advancing Ukraine’s agri-food industry.

Located in Vinnytsia, the agri-food park offers modern, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly infrastructure for food businesses and associated industries. The park recently received UAH 116 million in state funding under the “Made in Ukraine” policy. This funding will not only improve infrastructure but also enhance its appeal to businesses seeking to relocate from frontline areas and expand export opportunities.

"I see industrial parks as key points for Ukraine's economic growth and an effective tool for its reindustrialization. These parks provide state-of-the-art infrastructure with the latest energy-saving and efficiency technologies, along with various benefits and support from both the state and international financial organizations, offering long-term prospects," said Volia Agri-Food Park Vinnytsia’s ideologist and HD-group co-founder Borys Shestopalov, a speaker at the forum.

"In an environment of scarce financial resources and labor, transforming the entire country into a priority development zone is challenging, though desirable. Therefore, such parks, where resources and opportunities are concentrated, can serve as growth platforms."

Shestopalov also noted that many Ukrainian businesses are either restructured or modernized remnants of Soviet-era enterprises. The only way forward for these companies is to create competitive products for export.

"Building a business within an industrial park allows you to predict the final product's cost more accurately, thanks to modern technologies, automation, and reduced energy expenses," he explained. "HD-group is carefully considering the possibility of establishing several new enterprises within the park."

"This is not just about relocation but the creation of entirely new products that meet the growing demands of today's consumers. These include developments in functional foods, longer shelf-life products, organic raw material-based innovations, and more. In the context of shrinking domestic consumption, HD-group’s new ventures are primarily tied to export development, with all calculations based on a proportional distribution of products between the domestic and international markets," Shestopalov added.

To learn more about how to leverage unique opportunities for business development at Volia Agri-food Park Vinnytsia, visit the park’s webpage at Volia Agri-food Park Vinnytsia.