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Overview of Cherkasy OblastArea: 20.9 thousand sq. km, 3.5% of the territory of UkrainePopulation:1.451 million; 55% - urban; 45% rural Administrative centre:Cherkasy (309,100) Major cities:Uman (91,000), Smila (77,000), Zolotonosha (32,000) |
There are more than 300 industrial enterprises in the Cherkasy region. The share of the industry in the gross internal output constitutes 45%.
Industrial production is distributed in the following way (as a percentage of the production of the region):
- food industry – 43.1%
- chemical and petrochemical industry – 28.1%
- energy sector – 7.1%
- machine building and metalworking – 7.3%
- light industry – 3.4%
- woodworking and pulp-and-paper industry – 4.1%
- industry of construction materials – 1.6%
- ferrous metallurgy – 1.0%
Five chemical enterprises produce synthetic ammonia, mineral fertilizers, synthetic pitch (tar), chemical threads and fibers, etc. 1.8% of the gainfully employed population are engaged in this branch. In Cherkasy two of the largest enterprises of Ukraine are situated: the joint stock company "Azot" that produces 20% of mineral fertilizers of Ukraine and state plant "Khimvolokno".
In the region there is a developed machine-building industry. Its basis is 35 enterprises. They manufacture and have production capacities for manufacturing of technological equipment for agricultural complex; machines and equipment for cattle-breeding and production of mixed feed; machine-tools and production lines; technological equipment for light industry; chemical equipment, medical appliances; electronic computing machines; optical devices; telegraph equipment; metal-working and wood-working machine-tools; steam-boilers; household appliances.
30 enterprises of light industry in our region produce silk fabrics, knitwear, footwear, ready-made garments, leather accessories, and other products.
Regional woodworking enterprises produce furniture, do woodworking and woodcutting.
Food industry is one of the most important industries for the region. It includes 123 enterprises where 4.1% of gainfully employed population of the region are engaged. A great variety of food products is produced, such as fresh and canned meat, fish and dairy products; sugar; cereals; spirit, vodka and liqueur distilleries; beer and soft drinks; starchy foods and confectionery; fruit-and-vegetable cannery.
Six enterprises of the region are completely or partially involved in production of medications. The range of medications manufactured includes nearly 80 items. They are mainly medications for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, antiasthmatic, histamine, anodyne and febrifugal medications.
Foreign Trade (as of January 1, 2000) is:
- total – USD 335.9 million
- export – USD 187.4 million
- import – USD 148.5 million
Foreign Trade in Goods:
- total – USD 331.3 million
- export – USD 185.0 million
- import – USD 146.3 million
Foreign Trade in Services:
- total – USD 4.6 million
- export – USD 2.4 million
- import – USD 2.2 million
For centuries the Cherkasy region has been famous for live-stock breeding and crops-growing. Nowadays agriculture still plays a very important role in the economy of the region. The agricultural priorities include sugar beet and grain growing, as well as live-stock breeding. Land used for farming constitutes 1456.1 thousand hectares, 1286.3 thousand hectares of arable land inclusive. Qualitative indices of the land fertility in the region are considered to be the highest in Ukraine.
Practically all agricultural products grown in the region can be processed by the local enterprises. The most important problem of all food processing enterprises is the need for modern packaging materials and equipment. The functioning enterprises include 24 sugar refineries, 6 meat-processing and packing factories, 20 milk-processing factories, 5 spirit, vodka and liqueur distilleries, 5 soft drink factories and breweries, 6 fruit-and-vegetable canneries.
In the region, there are 42 recreational establishments.
The local airport is situated in 15-minute drive from the center of Cherkasy. It can serve international flights. The aircraft handle mail and freight transportation and work with chemicals in agriculture.
All administrative centers of the region are connected by railway communication. In 30 km from Cherkasy there is a railway junction named after T.Shevchenko. It connects all cities of Ukraine, as well as Moscow and St.Petersburg with the region.
River transport is engaged in cargo delivery, passenger transportation and river voyages.
There are two highways on the territory of the region: Kyiv-Odesa and Kyiv-Donetsk. All settlements of the region are connected by bus communication.
The Cherkasy region is proud of its research & development and academic potential. It has 35 research institutions and their branches and 6 higher education institutions.
History of the city of Cherkasy, the region center, is more than 700-year long. During these years the city was in the epicenter of all historical events taking place on the territory of Ukraine.
Today it is a modern city charmingly located on the Dnipro bank. A large number of hotels and stores, quiet cafes and comfortable restaurants are at the service of the city inhabitants and quests. Well-developed transportation network allows to get easily to regional centers of Ukraine and to its capital – the city of Kyiv.