Head of the Swiss Delegation Martin Candinas: We Are Impressed by Vinnytsia and Feel at Home

The Swiss Confederation is a strategic international partner for Vinnytsia. During the 15 years of cooperation, many important and successful projects have been implemented. A Swiss delegation paid an official visit to Vinnytsia on August 23-24 to see the results of their implementation and discuss the prospects for further cooperation. It included representatives of the Swiss National Council, the Office of the Federal Assembly and the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine. The delegation was headed by the Second Vice-President of the Swiss National Council Martin Candinas. Distinguished guests on a trip to Vinnytsia were also accompanied by people's deputies of Ukraine.

First, they visited the boiler house on Bazhenova Street, where they saw how a joint energy efficiency project was implemented. As a result, it was possible to provide a new quality of heat supply services for residents of 3 districts.

Then the Swiss together with the head of the community Serhii Morhunov took a walk along the renovated Zamostyanska Street. The mayor told the guests about the reconstruction of this street. Here the tram tracks were moved according to the velvet path principle, rain sewerage was built, the road surface and sidewalks were repaired. In Vinnytsia, for the first time in Ukraine, we applied solutions with a raised carriageway in the area of tram stops (Viennese-type platform), made modern lighting and video surveillance system. We also created safe and comfortable conditions for pedestrians and all modes of transport.

"Before the reconstruction, this area was depressed. This neighborhood is a former military town of the early XX century. When we decided to renovate it, we started from Zamostianska Street, including in the context of receiving a new batch of Swiss trams from Zurich in the second half of 2022, about which we have already signed an agreement. This is a vehicle of the 90s of the last century, it is in pretty good condition and still travels in Zurich. The next stage of renovation of this area is the renovation of Kotsiubynskyi Avenue with the construction of a new tram track, the so-called Vinnytsia Mile", said the mayor Serhii Morhunov.

"We are impressed by Vinnytsia, we really like you. Especially the fact that we see trams on the streets that we remember from home, so we feel at home. These trams are just in great condition. But what struck me most was that Vinnytsia has its own vision. Step by step you are implementing interesting and necessary projects for the city. It is important for Switzerland to make at least a small contribution to the success story of Vinnytsia. It is in the interests of Switzerland and the city of Zurich itself to continue cooperation. We really know that next year Zurich will send another batch of trams, this will be the next step in our cooperation," said the head of the Swiss delegation Martin Candinas.

After the walk, the guests together with the mayor and representatives of the municipality went to the city center on a Swiss tram. By the way, from 2007 to 2012, the city received 116 tram cars under the Zurich Trams for Vinnytsia project. The Swiss Confederation funded the transportation of cars from Zurich, the supply of spare parts, the purchase of additional equipment in Ukraine, staff training and even the translation of technical documentation. The total cost of the project was almost 3.9 million Swiss francs.