On September 12, the Odesa Revival Economic Forum commenced its work. The event brought together experts, political figures, city leaders, diplomats, and business representatives from various countries around the world.
During the discussion panel “Preserving UNESCO Cultural Heritage,” Anastasia Bondar, Deputy Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization, addressed the audience.
“Odesa, as the largest UNESCO heritage site in Ukraine, is under the special attention of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications. Despite the realities of war, the Ministry, in partnership with the city and regional authorities, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, is making every effort to attract the attention of international partners to both the protection and restoration of Odesa’s cultural treasures,” emphasized Anastasia Bondar.
At the same time, the Deputy Minister highlighted Italy’s significant contribution to the development of the Odesa region, specifically the 44 million euros that will be allocated to implement several key cultural projects, including emergency measures for the protection and restoration of damaged monuments.
“I would also like to emphasize the importance of digitization in the process of documenting and preserving monuments. To effectively manage UNESCO sites in Ukraine, it is necessary to enhance the legislative framework at the national level. Currently, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications, together with the UNESCO Office in Ukraine, is working on this,” added Anastasiia Bondar.
Discussions at the Forum in Odesa demonstrate that culture is one of the priority areas for Ukraine’s recovery. Engaging international partners and utilizing modern technologies, such as digitization, are key factors in preserving the city’s cultural heritage.
