Odesa

Odesa Region is located in the southwest of Ukraine, on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The administrative center of the region is the city of Odesa.

In the north, the region borders Vinnytsia and Kirovohrad Regions, in the east — Mykolaiv Region, in the west — Moldova, and in the southwest — Romania. The coastline extends for 300 km, while the state border runs for about 1,200 km. Odesa Region has eight seaports, over 80,000 hectares of vineyards, and five of the largest lakes in Ukraine. It is located 474 km from Kyiv and has an international airport, “Odesa.”

Administratively, the region is divided into 7 districts, comprising 19 cities, 33 urban-type settlements, and 1,122 villages.

By production specialization, Odesa Region serves as Ukraine’s primary maritime hub for foreign economic activity, handling international cargo and passenger transit. It is among the most promising regions of the country for the development of foreign trade, joint ventures, and special (free) economic zones. The region possesses substantial scientific, technical, design, and construction potential, and is also recognized as one of Ukraine’s leading coastal recreational centers for tourism. Furthermore, Odesa Region stands out for its intensive agriculture and serves as a major center of mechanical engineering, light industry, and chemical production at both regional and national levels.

Sectoral specialization: processing of agricultural products, research and development (agriculture).

Natural resources: limestone, kaolin, granite, sand, and oil.

Odesa Region participates in the Swiss-Ukrainian project UCORD, which supports regional cohesion, economic recovery, and the enhancement of governance quality. Within this initiative, the region develops effective communication between government authorities, businesses, and civil society, while introducing modern approaches to regional development planning.

The region’s educational potential is represented by 31 universities and 9 technical schools. The leading institutions include Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University, the National University “Odesa Maritime Academy”, and the National University “Odesa Law Academy”.

The unemployment rate in the region stood at 7.3% (compared to 9.9% nationwide), while the average salary reached $510 (the national level was $627).