The Department of Production and Investment Management held the annual international conference "Inclusive Development of the National Economy: Global Trends, Opportunities of Ukraine and the Role of the Agri-Food Sector"

 The Department of Production and Investment Management of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine has a tradition of holding an annual conference in November dedicated to the problems of creating an inclusive economy. Thanks to the efforts of Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Economics, Professor Lidia Shynkaruk and her students, today we can already talk about a formed research school with specific achievements in this direction. The scientific achievements of the representatives of the school of inclusive economy are devoted, in particular, to solving the problems of risks and features of Ukraine's development in wartime, opportunities for inclusive development of the agri-food sector and food security of Ukraine, opportunities for inclusive development and socio-economic factors of inclusive development. These areas formed the basis of the titles of the sections of the VII International Scientific and Practical Conference "Inclusive Development of the National Economy: Global Trends, Ukraine's Opportunities and the Role of the Agri-Food Sector", held on November 16-17, 2023.

The research of scientists under the leadership of Lidia Shynkaruk did not stop either during the pandemic or with the beginning of large-scale hostilities on the territory of Ukraine. On the contrary, the challenges that we have all had to face in recent years have led to an emphasis on the applied nature of research aimed at ensuring inclusiveness in the context of the need for post-war recovery of Ukraine's economy, its agricultural sector, support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Volunteering.

That is why, in addition to scientists from Ukraine and other countries of the world, business practitioners who are able to share their experience are actively involved in the conference.

Traditionally, the coordinator of the conference was Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Economics, Professor Lidia Shynkaruk. In her welcoming speech, she focused on the fact that increasing the level of inclusion of Ukraine's economy in the global economic space is the most pressing topic of today.

Further, the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine Vadym Kondratiuk addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. Having said a few words about the importance of holding such events, he focused on the topic of today's conference, which is of particular importance right now, as it concerns an extremely important issue for the whole of Ukraine, for its sustainable development and socio-economic growth.

The Dean of the Faculty of Agrarian Management Anatoliy Ostapchuk expressed confidence that professional reports, reports and discussions, new ideas of speakers and participants of the conference will contribute in the future to the generalization of scientific approaches and the development of recommendations for further inclusive development of the national economy.

Yuriy Antropov, the head of the Eldorado farm, also addressed the audience with a welcoming speech, noting that Ukraine has all the opportunities for the inclusive development of the national economy, and the agri-food sector is a really important component of this process.

During the plenary session, moderated by Lidia Shynkaruk, the conference participants had the opportunity not only to hear informative reports with new ideas on inclusive economic development, but also to join the discussion.

Lidiia Shynkaruk's report with a parallel slide show in English contained, in particular, specific recommendations for sustainable development. Lidiya Shynkaruk drew the audience's attention to the indicators of the so-called inclusive growth and development, which make it possible to measure such growth. Further, her report concerned the impact of Russia's war on the territory of Ukraine on the level of general security in the world, in particular, relevant statistical information was presented and changes in dynamics were shown.

Further, the attendees had the opportunity to hear the reports of their foreign colleagues, who willingly took part in the conference. It should be noted that colleagues from different parts of the world are invited to participate in the conference every year. This year's report by Professor Sigitas Daukilas from Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania) was focused on methodological and practical approaches to inclusive education. The report of Dr. Kvilinsky from the London Academy of Science and Business in the UK concerned the issues of synergistic cooperation with European institutions and opportunities for the Ukrainian economy, and the President's report The European Institute of Continuing Education, Doctor of Science, Professor J. Zatko from Slovakia was distinguished by special emotionality in the direction of comprehensive support for Ukraine. Mr. Professor Zatko actively invited colleagues from Ukraine to cooperate and assured of his active position on ensuring the political and economic independence of our Motherland.

Of particular interest to the audience was the presentation of the results of a joint study of the inclusion of the Ukrainian military in the socio-economic environment of the country by Lyudmila Shepeleva, a practical psychologist (Helping Hand Company, Inc, Boston, USA) and Doctor of Economics, Professor Emilia Prushkivska. Students currently pursuing a master's degree in the Department of Production and Investment Management at the educational program "Management of Investment Activities and International Projects", joined the discussion and asked questions to the speakers.

Today, it is impossible to stay away from the problems of inclusion of military personnel and their families. At a time when a bloody war is going on, the implementation of social projects aimed at supporting and rehabilitating those who have returned from the war zone is a matter of particular urgency. That is why the report of I. Kononchuk, a member of the board of the NGO "Community Unity is a Prosperous Village", a specialist in the implementation of social projects, as well as financial management of transnational companies, concerned the inclusion of military personnel and their families within the framework of the "Peer-to-Peer" project, and the report of the President of the League for the Development of Science, Director of the Kyiv Business School of the Trade and Economic Mission of Ukraine Viktor Tyrkalo concerned the problems of the formation of mini-ecosystems for the development of territorial communities in wartime and post-war times.

At the end of the conference, O. Kovalchuk, a postgraduate student of the Faculty of Agrarian Management, presented the results of his research and reported on inclusion as a factor in ensuring sustainable development of the region.

Summing up the conference, Lidia Shynkaruk thanked all those present for their participation, and her colleagues in the department for many years of fruitful work on organizing and holding conferences on the problems of inclusive development.

I would like to believe that with the advent of peace on our land, with the long-awaited Victory over the enemy, Ukraine will be able to truly ensure inclusive development and intensive economic growth. The war has become an extremely difficult test for all of us, but now the outdated model of management must be changed, management must acquire innovative features, and human values must become the most important. Apparently, for this we still need to change our way of thinking, but, of course, the vector of movement has now been chosen correctly.

Therefore, we wish the representatives of the school of inclusive economy under the leadership of Lidia Shynkaruk further success in their work and, most importantly, not to stop there!

I would like to believe that the spread of inclusive ideas will become more and more large-scale, which will contribute to solving the problems of post-war reconstruction and development!

With faith in the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!

Kateryna ALEKSEEVA,
Associate Professor of the Production
and Investment Management Department

Translated by Tetiana ARTIUKH,
Associate Professor of the Production
and Investment Management Department