35 Years of Partnership Between Odesa and Gdańsk

Next year, Odesa and Gdańsk will celebrate 35 years of their friendly relations. To mark this occasion, a festive concert and other events are planned in Gdańsk in the spring as part of the «Odesa Pays a Visit» project.
During the visit, the Odesa delegation discussed the organizational details of the cultural program.
A significant focus was on enhancing professional collaboration. Responding to an invitation from the Polish side, the Odesa delegation participated in the international BALEXPO 2025 exhibition, where key topics included port infrastructure, logistics, and innovation.

«This was an opportunity to showcase the potential of our community and reaffirm our commitment to joint development with European partners,» noted Olena Zakharchenko-Netuzhilova, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Culture, and Marketing.

During the meetings, the following topics were discussed:

• expanding partnership ties;
• sharing experiences in local-level European integration;
• joint project development to attract funding from European funds;
• inter-municipal cooperation of neighboring communities and creating functional territories;
• Ukrainian practices in civil protection and rapid response during wartime.

«Partnership with Odesa is about trust, joint initiatives, and a shared desire to move forward together,» emphasized Gdańsk's Deputy Mayor Piotr Gżelak.

Gdańsk is a port city on the Baltic coast of Poland, rich in history, multicultural heritage, and strategic importance. Like Odesa, it combines maritime trade, architectural beauty, dramatic historical events, and a spirit of renewal.