Italy promised Ukraine 32.5 million euros to restore cultural heritage of Odesa region

The governments of Ukraine and Italy signed a grant agreement in Rome to implement the program "Restoration and Preservation of the Cultural Heritage of the Odesa Region".

According to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, under the agreement, the Italian government will provide Ukraine with 32.5 million euros of non-repayable assistance for the program.

After signing the agreement, the funding will be used to restore six architectural monuments in Odesa:

• Odesa National Art Museum;
• Odesa Museum of Western and Eastern Art;
• Odesa Regional Philharmonic named after David Oistrakh;
• Odesa Literary Museum;
• Zontag House;
• Palace of Marriages.

The project includes comprehensive restoration work, improving the safety and energy efficiency of buildings, adapting them to the needs of people with limited mobility, and updating the engineering infrastructure.

The agreement was signed by Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine and Minister of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, and Antonio Tajani, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, on behalf of the Ukrainian side.

In addition to the reconstruction of monuments, it is planned to create the Odesa UNESCO Heritage Management Center, a management and resource center dedicated to the coordination and preservation of the heritage of Odesa, which is on the UNESCO list.

Earlier, Italy promised to finance three large-scale projects in the Odesa region totaling more than 63 million euros. These are restoration projects related to cultural heritage, healthcare, and agricultural infrastructure.

The first agreement provided a grant of €27.5 million for the restoration of architectural monuments in Odesa. The funds will be used to restore the Odesa Philharmonic (the former New Exchange building), the Potocki Palace, the Abaza Palace (which now houses the Museum of Western and Eastern Art), and the Literary Museum. The project aims not only to preserve cultural heritage, but also to create modern public spaces that will promote tourism.

The second loan agreement provided for the allocation of EUR 30 million on favorable terms: for 20 years, of which the first 10 years are a grace period without repayment, at 0% per annum. The money will be used to build a new building of the regional children's hospital in Odesa. The new building will have 260 beds and eight operating rooms that will meet all modern medical standards. The project has already been included in the DREAM electronic recovery system.

The Italian partners also paid attention to agriculture: they plan to upgrade irrigation systems in the region, which is crucial in the context of climate change and droughts, as well as for the country's food security. It is planned to attract EUR 6.1 million in grant funds for the reconstruction of irrigation systems in Odesa region.

Кирило Бойко