Development of International Cooperation: A Delegation from France Visits Vinnytsia

Representatives of the French city of Dijon and the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region paid a working visit to our city. The international partners met with Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov and Vinnytsia Regional Council Head Viacheslav Sokolovyi to plan further decentralized cooperation between our cities. At the same time, local officials presented to the Europeans the city's potential in various fields, including technology, medicine, education, administrative services, and spatial development.

According to Vinnytsia City Mayor Serhii Morhunov, Vinnytsia City Council began establishing business relations with the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region and its capital, Dijon, several years ago, in 2019.

"Our first contacts with the city of Dijon began in 2019. On the eve of the full-scale invasion, we started working together on the possibility of obtaining expertise in modernizing the water supply system, and in cooperation with the French agro-cluster VITAGORA, we created the AgroVin association, which includes representatives of Vinnytsia's agricultural business. By the way, we used many of Dijon's successful practices in agriculture when working on the municipal program for rural development," said Serhii Morhunov. "Currently, the mayor of the French city and the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region are interested in establishing partnerships, and we have been discussing areas of our further cooperation."

Before exploring Vinnytsia, the French delegation visited the renovated Shevchenka Square, where a memorial wall commemorating the fallen soldiers in the russian-Ukrainian war was installed. During their stay in Vinnytsia, the delegates also visited Peremohy Square, the site where russian missiles hit the city and killed dozens of people. Deputy Mayors Andrii Ocheretnyi and Ihor Otkydach also showed the renovated Vinnytsia registry office, which was damaged by rocket fire.

The city guests also visited Zamostianska Square and got acquainted with the Vinnytsia Mile project. In addition, they met Vinnytsia teachers from school No. 30 and saw the radiation shelter being built next to the school. The building, which is being constructed using monolithic technology, will have rooms for hiding, a bathroom, a heating station, ventilation, and rooms for storing and heating food.

First Deputy Mayor of Dijon Nathalie Koenders noted that such meetings are very important to understand in which areas to establish cooperation.

"Vinnytsia and Dijon have many common approaches to project implementation, so such meetings are very important. This applies to economic policy, transport, and the digital space in the service sector. Therefore, we plan to build a partnership not only at the city level but also at the regional level. This will allow Vinnytsia to successfully join the European Union as part of the whole of Ukraine," she said.

The program was also intense at Vinnytsia National Technical University, where a meeting with representatives of the AgroVin agrocluster was held. Since the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region has a highly developed food industry, communication with Vinnytsia agribusinesses was intense and productive.

Another location visited by the French delegates was a hospital. There, the director of the institution spoke about the work of the medical facility and how the city authorities are helping to improve the provision of quality medical services. The delegates were shown the renovated departments and modern methods used to rehabilitate patients with musculoskeletal disorders and neurorehabilitation.

Lionel Pascinto, Deputy Director General of the Dijon University Hospital, was part of the delegation and saw how Vinnytsia doctors work with patients with severe injuries. He noted that Dijon is very interested in cooperation and partnership with Vinnytsia in the field of medical services.

"Not only the exchange of theoretical knowledge is important, but also the exchange of practical experience - both between students and practitioners. The exchange of practice and experience, as well as scientific achievements and scientific expertise, is an important basis for improving the level of medical care in both our countries," said Lionel Pascinto.