VIII LVIV INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM

VIII LVIV INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM
"European Partnership - Open Opportunities"

Head of Lviv regional state administration
Mikоla Кmіt'

For eight years of its existence, Lviv International Economic Forum and Investment Fair have improved its task of Lviv Oblast promotion exclusively within the cross-border region that also includes other oblasts of Western Ukraine and neighboring regions of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania.
The Forum has now become an important event in Eastern Europe. The active cooperation and open communication in public management, environmental protection, science, culture and business between Ukraine and EU countries of the last few years was the main reason for this.
Today Lviv International Economic Forum is positioned as one of central events on all-Ukraine scale. Lviv region and the city of Lviv are being turning to true ‘gates’ between Ukraine and EU countries. We are very pleased to mention this fact since it is completely in line with the main goals of the Strategy of Lviv Region Development till year 2015.
Lviv Oblast has everything needed to hold such an active communication here:

road network including Pan-European highways;
rich cultural, historic and art surroundings that will satisfy the most exigent connoisseur of art;
talented and hard-working people – descendants of those who did significant contribution in development of the world sciences and culture;
beautiful nature and inexhaustible minerals that make us consider our land to be the best place for rest and health spa.

Moreover, you will always feel yourself as a desirable and dear guest here.
About half of all castles and palaces of Ukraine are located in Lviv region. Our obligation before our descendants is to preserve these precious acquirements of not only Ukrainian but also all-European culture. As far as this year is proclaimed a Year of Castles and Palaces of Galychyna in Ukraine, the central theme of Lviv International Economic Forum is the attraction of state-of-art technologies to preservation of historic and architectural heritage. Another central topic of the Forum derives from an exceptional opportunity of hosting Euro-2012 that gives us a chance to make a major step in the infrastructure development.
The sessions of Lviv International Economic Forum are planned in such a way to make the communication between interested parties as efficient as possible. Discussion of conceptual approaches is linked to particular investment projects presentations. All of them are displayed at Investment Fair and the best of them will be discussed at panel sessions. The events will be held in picturesque historic buildings of ancient Lviv.
After walking down the streets in the evening, you will never forget the atmosphere of romantic amorousness and everlasting juvenility that Lviv autumn gifts you.

You can be sure of a friendly welcome to Lviv region!

Lviv City Mayor
Andriy Sadovyy

Lviv is an important political, economic, cultural, and scientific centre of Western Ukraine. Lviv is where the mysterious and irrational East mingled with the heroic and pragmatic West. This multiethnic and multicultural city has always magnetically attracted the most talented architects, sculptors, artists, and merchants. They were tempted not only by its immeasurable and marvelous wealth, but also by its high cultural and educational level, as well as by its captivating intellectual life.
Contemporary Lviv is a city which has set an ambitious aim before itself: to return its former glory and become one of Europe’s regional capitals. Having won the right to host matches for the European Football Championship in 2012, the city has received new prospects for development.
That is why I invite you to join us in the restoration of glorious Lviv.
The City Council is ready to support your projects and facilitate the realization of your ideas, securing a positive climate for business and making the city comfortable for living and recreation.
I hospitably welcome you to a city whose history spans 750 years. Walking through ancient Rynok Square, visiting the celebrated Italian Courtyard and unique churches inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, you will get an unforgettable impression and will be assured that Lviv is the reliable and perspective ground for the development of your business which you have been looking for so long.

Lviv is open to the world. L'viv is open to you.

Lviv Region Council
Head
Myroslav Senyk

Dear Sirs,
Located on the East-West and South-North crossing of the trade-routes, Galychyna has been an important centre of trade and information exchange since middle ages. That is why so many nations and religions in our land have lived nearby and collaborated.
Today Galychyna is also a Ukrainian ‘gate’ to Europe owing to a considerable part of the state border with EU being in Lviv region. Traditions and geographic location bestow our region with an important mission of being a particular bridge between East and West, between Ukraine and the EU.
Lviv International Economic Forum is virtually called upon to further and to extend our contacts with Europe.
Certainly, the topics, the way they are fitted out to constitute the Forum, the experts of repute as well as the practical projects of Investment Fair are pledging to boost Forum’s success. And so the result will contribute to the integration of Ukraine.
Indeed, with the huge scientific and business potential Lviv region has, we commonly with our friends and partners will make projects in favor of the development of Ukraine.
What is more, Lviv region and the city of Lviv are known for its sightseeing. To all of the participants of the Forum I wish a sheer enjoyment of the beauty and positive excitement.

The Lviv International Economic Forum has a long tradition and has become one of the most important economic meetings in central- and Eastern Europe. I am pleased that this year the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE) is one of the organisers of this important conference together with Lviv Oblast and the City of Lviv. It counts among the important aims and tasks of the IRE to support regions and cities in their political and economical development. A common Europe will only endure in the length of time if it is based on economically and politically strong regions, cities and municipalities.
Ukraine is perhaps European Union’s most important partner regarding European Neighbourhood Policy. EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, has formulated key areas in which EU shall reinforce European Neighbourhood Policy in the future: integration, mobility, energy as well as financial and technical aid. Similarly, EU aims for simpler, cheaper and faster visa issuing.
The mentioned targets should be reached by different forms of financial and technical support from EU funds. For the period from 2007 till 2013 there are funds from the European Neighbourhood Policy Instrument (ENPI) which has been increased by one third compared to its previous volume.
Funds that are intended for country programmes are matched with the needs and respective implementation possibilities of the individual states; however, they also depend on the introduction of agreed reforms (reward system).
Further emphasis is put on measures for regional and cross-border cooperation. Therein it is about cooperation between local and regional authorities on both sides of EU’s external border. Likewise considerable funds are provided for government reforms, governance and promotion of investments.
Not only because of EURO 2012 Lviv is a particularly attractive centre for economic investments. It opens up many opportunities for economic activities. To discuss this and make contacts between representatives of politics and economy of Ukraine and its neighbour-regions and interested investors is an important task of Lviv International Economic Forum. Therefore the motto is “European Partnership: Open Opportunities“. Many prominent referees are going to provide participants with much valuable information.