Hertfordshire County Council signs cooperation agreement with Ukrainian region
Hertfordshire County Council has signed a cooperation agreement with a region of Ukraine, pledging to work closely with them on areas including education, the economy and science and technology.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Hertfordshire and the Sumy region of Ukraine during the International Summit of Cities and Regions in Kyiv.
Other areas included within the agreement are food and agriculture, energy, humanitarian assistance, environmental sustainability and climate change.
The agreement aims to achieve knowledge transfer as well as encouraging educational and trade exchanges and inward investment.
Both regions will now exchange information on these areas, including linking up contacts to support businesses, educational institutions and voluntary and charity organisations.
Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, who signed the agreement for Hertfordshire County Council said: “Our county has a proud history of international partnership and collaboration, and I am delighted to deepen our ties still further with the Sumy region in Ukraine.
“By signing this agreement, we are turning shared ambition into a framework for delivery. We are working together to create a meaningful and lasting impact.”
Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy regional state administration added: “This memorandum is a blueprint for practical action.
“Despite the daily challenges on the frontline, the Sumy region is focused on recovery and development.
“We deeply value Hertfordshire's solidarity, support, and trust, and are ready to work together on concrete projects across all agreed areas that will bring tangible benefits to both communities.”
The pledge marks the four-year anniversary since the first Ukrainians came to Hertfordshire, seeking refuge from the conflict in Ukraine.
It also makes formal an existing relationship with the north-east region of Ukraine, which has seen humanitarian aid trucks sent to Sumy to help residents.
More than 2,700 Ukrainians have been given refuge in Hertfordshire since the country was invaded by Russia in February 2022, and they have been hosted by more than 1,100 residents.