December 8, 2024, 12:15 pm

INTERNATIONAL
MAYORS SUMMIT 2024

About

International Mayors Summit (IMS), launched in 2016 in Ukraine as a knowledge exchange platform for local government leaders, became “more than a conference”, a place where projects and partnerships are born.

In navigating this challenging journey, Ukraine and Moldova have drawn closer to the European family they belong to, recognizing that local-level cooperation is integral to strengthening regional security and development efforts. Consequently, the 5th International Mayors Summit will take place in Moldova with the esteemed support of President Maia Sandu.

The annual Summit brings together prominent mayors from throughout the world, the business community, international organizations representatives and civil society to discuss solutions, innovations, best practices and cities’ success stories in various spheres. The Summit is organized by Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund. In Ukraine it was supported by the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Mayors and experts from the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, UK, UAE, Albania, Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, and Germany took part at the International Mayors Summit.

The Summit’s format allows participants to get knowledge and build a strong international network with prominent global leaders of urban transformation, join professional speed-networking sessions, test various solutions right on the spot, sign memorandums and launch special projects.

In this volatile world, influenced by pandemic, wars and global political and economic crises, mayors are at the frontline of urgent and necessary decisions, trying to coordinate with the central government, create partnerships with businesses, engage and convince the community.

Since February 24, 2022, Ukrainian city leaders have confronted a new and critical challenge in safeguarding their communities from the brutality of the Russian aggressor. Cities like Mariupol have been entirely devastated, while Kharkiv and Mykolaiv face incessant attacks, and Chernihiv, Irpin, and Bucha have endured devastating destruction. The enemy targets vital civilian infrastructure—hospitals, schools, kindergartens, roads, bridges, railway hubs, and stations. Security has emerged as a paramount challenge for Ukrainian cities nationwide. In the western regions, communities are diligently providing refuge for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and relocated businesses amid an uncertain period. Remarkably, international cooperation among communities has reached unprecedented levels, fostering unity around democratic, safe, and innovative development.

The overarching theme of the Summit is centered on the understanding that the reconstruction of cities is tantamount to the reconstruction of society. Accordingly, this Summit will focus on vital topics such as revitalizing cities, making them attractive to human capital, developing economic profiles, ensuring safety and growth, and introducing innovative solutions to fortify a human-centric approach to city development.

 

We cordially invite you to the Summit 2024!

International Mayors Summit (IMS), launched in 2016 in Ukraine as a knowledge exchange platform for local government leaders, became “more than a conference”, a place where projects and partnerships are born.

In navigating this challenging journey, Ukraine and Moldova have drawn closer to the European family they belong to, recognizing that local-level cooperation is integral to strengthening regional security and development efforts. Consequently, the 5th International Mayors Summit will take place in Moldova with the esteemed support of President Maia Sandu.

The annual Summit brings together prominent mayors from throughout the world, the business community, international organizations representatives and civil society to discuss solutions, innovations, best practices and cities’ success stories in various spheres. The Summit is organized by Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund. In Ukraine it was supported by the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Mayors and experts from the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, UK, UAE, Albania, Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, and Germany took part at the International Mayors Summit.

The Summit’s format allows participants to get knowledge and build a strong international network with prominent global leaders of urban transformation, join professional speed-networking sessions, test various solutions right on the spot, sign memorandums and launch special projects.

In this volatile world, influenced by pandemic, wars and global political and economic crises, mayors are at the frontline of urgent and necessary decisions, trying to coordinate with the central government, create partnerships with businesses, engage and convince the community.

Since February 24, 2022, Ukrainian city leaders have confronted a new and critical challenge in safeguarding their communities from the brutality of the Russian aggressor. Cities like Mariupol have been entirely devastated, while Kharkiv and Mykolaiv face incessant attacks, and Chernihiv, Irpin, and Bucha have endured devastating destruction. The enemy targets vital civilian infrastructure—hospitals, schools, kindergartens, roads, bridges, railway hubs, and stations. Security has emerged as a paramount challenge for Ukrainian cities nationwide. In the western regions, communities are diligently providing refuge for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and relocated businesses amid an uncertain period. Remarkably, international cooperation among communities has reached unprecedented levels, fostering unity around democratic, safe, and innovative development.

The overarching theme of the Summit is centered on the understanding that the reconstruction of cities is tantamount to the reconstruction of society. Accordingly, this Summit will focus on vital topics such as revitalizing cities, making them attractive to human capital, developing economic profiles, ensuring safety and growth, and introducing innovative solutions to fortify a human-centric approach to city development.

 

We cordially invite you to the Summit 2024!

AGENDA

11.04.2024

Door open, registration, security check

Opening Ceremony: Welcome Address & Opening Remarks

Maia Sandu, President of the Republic of Moldova

 

Ned Price, U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations (USA)

 

Dennis Johnson, Chairman of the Board, WNISEF

 

Iryna Ozymok, Founder of the IMS

 

Victoria Butuc-Guranda, Mayor of Dănceni (MD)

 

Video address by the Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb on The Role of Local Government in Building Sustainable Democracy

Group Photo and Short Break

Pitches of Mayors

Mayors are showcasing their innovative solutions for tackling specific local challenges through collaboration and creativity.

Andriy Sadovyy, Mayor of Lviv (UA)

 

Oleksandr Senkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv (UA)

 

Oleksandr Symchyshyn, Mayor of Khmelnytskyy (UA)

 

Silvia Știrbeț, Mayor of Văleni (MD)

 

Constantin Cojocaru, Mayor of Edineț (MD)

 

Allen Coliban, Mayor of Brașov (RO)

 

Marian Florea, President of the Romanian City Managers Association

Coffee-break

Panel discussion: Innovations and Digital Transformation in Local Government

Igor Bercu, Head of Digital Platforms Department, e-Governance Agency (MD)

 

Tetiana Prykhodko, Coordinator of Regional Digital Transformation, Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine (UA)

 

Stella Bădin, Deputy Mayor of Cahul (MD)

 

Ivan Nachovnyi, Deputy Head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration (UA) online

 

Moderator: Natalia Otel Belan, Regional Director, Europe and Eurasia, Center for International Private Enterprise, Washington DC

Lunch-break | Time for exhibition visit

Panel discussion: EU Membership – Regional Efforts

(cities from EU member states showcasing how EU programs and funds helped to change them and modernize) + EU representative to discuss possible existing programs)

Slawomir Tokarski, Director for the European Territorial Cooperation, Macro-regions, Interreg and Programme Implementation I at Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy

 

Teofil Gherca, URBACT Secretariat Director

 

Oksana Remiga, Senior Loan Officer, European Investment Bank

 

Ciprian Ciucu, Mayor of the 6th district of Bucharest (RO)

 

Mihai Jurca, City Manager of Oradea (RO)

 

Piotr Grzybowski, Deputy Mayor of Częstochowa (PL)

 

Moderator: Taras Byk, Member of Board, NGO Agency for Recovery and Development (UA)

Networking break/Time for exhibition visit

Panel Discussion: Rebuild Ukraine

Natalia Gavrilița, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, 2021-2023

 

Luke Cooper, Director of PeaceRep’s Ukraine team, London School of Economics

 

Yuriy Bova, Mayor of Trostyanets (UA)

 

Remigijus Šimašius, Mayor of Vilnius 2015-2023 (LT)

 

Marcin Nowacki, Vice President of ZPP (Poland Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers)

 

Antonella Valmorbida, Secretary General of ALDA

 

Moderator: Iryna Ozymok, Local Economic Development Program Director, WNISEF

Presentation: GROWTH POLES: a tool for resilience and recovery

Myroslav Koshelyuk, Expert on Strategic Planning of Local and Regional Development

Coffee-break

Interactive session: The Power of Partnership AWARD

Presentations in pairs by mayors of partner cities on their cooperation experience, joint projects, exchange, etc. Potential signing of new partnership agreements at the event.

Mykolaiv – Chełm

Oleksand Senkevych, Mayor of Mykolaiv

Renata Cieplowicz, Secretary of the City of Chelm

 

Vinnytsia – Karlsruhe

Igor Odtykach, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia

Martin Wiederkehr, Director of Hauptamt (Karlsruhe) + video from the mayor (TBC)

 

Khmelnytskyi – Šiauliai

Oleksandr Symchyshyn, Mayor of Khmelnytskyi

Saulius Stasiunas, Member of Šiauliai City Council

 

Chortkiv – Karlskrona

Volodymyr Shmatko, Mayor of Chortkiv

Emma Swahn Nilsson, Mayor of Karlskrona (online)

 

Kopychyntsi – Liskeard + Cavarzere

Bohdan Kelichavyy, Mayor of Kopychyntsi

Simon Cassidy, Mayor of Liskeard

Pierfrancesco Munari, Mayor of Caverzere

 

Bilogorodka – Tyresö

Anton Ovsienko, Head of Bilogorodka community

Anita Mattsson, Head of Tyreso community

 

Dănceni – Filipeștii de Pădure

Victoria Butuc-Guranda, Mayor of Dănceni

Ciprian Daniel Morărescu, Mayor of Filipeștii de Pădure

 

Edineț – Alba Iulia

Constantin Cojocaru, Mayor of Edineț

Alba Iulia (tbc)

 

Băcioi – Oradea

Ilie Leahu, Mayor of Băcioi

Mihai Jurca, City Manager of Oradea

 

Sireți – Tulucești

Leonid Boaghi, Mayor of Sireți

Petrică Bratu, Mayor of Tulucești

 

Moderated by Magnus Liljeström, Senior Advisor, SALAR International, and Stella Jemna, Country Representative, WNISEF

Wine Tasting and Dinner

Innovative solutions exhibition

Presenting innovative technologies for improving city life, showcasing how smart systems, decision-making tools, and virtual reality urban planning can enhance convenience, sustainability, and well-being for residents and businesses.

Speakers

Maia Sandu

President of the Republic of Moldova

Ned Price

Deputy to the U.S. Representative to the United Nations

Natalia Gavrilița

Former Prime Minister of Moldova

Iryna Ozymok

Founder of International Mayors Summit

Andriy Sadovyi

Mayor of Lviv

Antonella Valmorbida

Secretary General of ALDA

Oleksandr Senkevych

Mayor of Mykolaiv

Victoria Butuc-Guranda

Mayor of Dănceni

Silvia Știrbeț

Mayor of Văleni

Volodymyr Shmatko

Mayor of Chortkiv, Ukraine

Bogdan Kelichavyi

Mayor of Kopychyntsi, Ukraine

Ambassador Kent D. Logsdon

United States Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova

Stella Jemna

Country Representative, Western NIS Enterprise Fund

Jānis Mažeiks

Ambassador, Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova

Constantin Cojocaru

Mayor of Edineț

All speakers

Organizer

Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF, formerly Western NIS Enterprise Fund) is a $285 million regional fund, a pioneer in Ukraine and Moldova with over 29 years of successful experience in investing in small and medium-sized companies. UMAEF was funded by the U.S. government via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Since its inception, UMAEF’s cumulative investments total over $190 million to 143 companies employing 27,000 people and made it possible to unlock $2.4 billion for companies in Ukraine and Moldova.

In 2015 UMAEF has launched a $35 million legacy program that is focused on direct investing and SME development, local economic development, impact investing, innovation, education and entrepreneurship, and veteran support; and in 2017 launched u.ventures, $15 million investment fund for early-stage technology startups. In 2022 U.S. government transferred $135 million to UMAEF in new funding for the economic recovery of Ukraine and Moldova. In 2024 the Fund rebranded to Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, emphasizing its dedication to Ukraine and Moldova.

Visit www.umaef.org

Video

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Greetings from the Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of Moldova

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Greetings from the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Republic of Moldova

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Greetings from the Ambassador of Romania to the Republic of Moldova

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Greetings from the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova

watch video

IMS2024: Greetings from the Swedish Ambassador to Moldova

Contacts

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