2019 may become a landmark year for the Melitopol cherry , the widely known brand in all of Ukraine. This is so because, with the beginning of a new year, the process of registering geographical indications of origin started exactly under such name as “Melitopol Cherry”. On February 27, the Center of Administration Services Provision hosted a working meeting with Valeriy Kokot, PLEDDG Senior Expert in Business Development, on “Discussion of Cooperation on Creation of Melitopol Cherry Growers’ Association”.

Besides, the meeting welcomed the participation of Iryna Rudakova, First Deputy Mayor, Hennadii Podshyvalov, Expert and Consultant of ZRPO “ZICC “Agro-Tavria”, Anton Lukoianov, Manager of “Melitopol Cherry” Corporate Group, Iryna Fursova, Head of Department for Entrepreneurship and Industry Development, Oleksandra Hryhorovych, Head of Department for Municipal Marketing and Tourism of the City’s Administration for social and Economic Development, and Iryna Kondratenko, Chief Specialist of Information Office of Mayor’s Protocol Service Department.

During the meeting the participants discussed the following issues:

Implementation of municipal program “Facilitating promotion of Melitopol produce to foreign markets”.
Discussion of issue on creation of “Melitopol Cherry Growers’ Association” Public Union, and registration of geographical indication of the “Melitopol Cherry” brand.
Discussion of the proposals for grant project.Discussion of further cooperation in the framework of implementation of the Project “Partnership for Local Economic Development and Democratic Governance” (PLEDDG Project), support of initiatives.

It worth mentioning that the process of registration of geographical indication of “Melitopol Cherry” brand’s origin is maintained with the support of Melitopol City Council and Project “Partnership for Local Economic Development and Democratic Governance” (PLEDDG), which is financed by the Government of Canada and has had fruitful cooperation with Melitopol for a long time.

After the working meeting, the conference room of CASP hosted a meeting of “Melitopol Cherry Growers’ Association” Public Union. The participants were the key agricultural producing units of Melitopol District.

The issue on creation of the Public Union was unanimously supported by the participants of the meeting.

It should be noted that protectability of the popular Melitopol brand will promote development of export potential of Melitopol’s small and medium-sized enterprises, creation of value chains in the field of agribusiness industry and extension of market outlets.