June 1-8, 2015 PLEDDG hosted its first study tour to Canada. The purpose of the trip was to familiarize PLEDDG partners with Canadian models, and the best practices in local economic development, strategic planning, municipal marketing, and territorial branding, and attraction of investments and business support.
The delegation to Canada included mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Viktor Anushkevychus, deputy of the Executive director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities Oleksandr Slobozhan, Director of the department for regional economies of the Ministry of economic development and trade of Ukraine Olena Nyzhnyk, head of the secretariat of the Committee for state construction, regional policy and local self-government of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Anzhela Maliuga and Director of PLEDDG Project Oleksandr Kucherenko.
In addition to studyt visits to a number of Canadian cities, PLEDDG delegation members also participated in the FCM annual conference. Delegates heard from and interacted with members of the Canadian federal government, communicated with leaders in the municipal sector, and spoke with FCM members on issues related to priorities of municipal policy and management.
The Inception Mission was a perfect chance for the Ukrainian delegates to compare Canadian practices with similar ones in Ukraine and get to know how to adapt the best Canadian models in the Ukrainian context.