Chortkivska Community

About

The Chortkivska community, with its administrative center in the city of Chortkiv, is located in the southern part of Western Podillia — a region rich in historical heritage and architectural diversity. Chortkiv is one of the largest cities in the Ternopil region. The city received its status over 500 years ago, and throughout the centuries, various cultures have intertwined here, all contributing to its development and identity. As a result of decentralization, the community now includes 7 villages and is administratively divided into 5 districts. The total area of the community is 152.97 km², with a population of 37,191 people. Since its establishment, the community has been successfully developing in the fields of culture, tourism, education, youth policy, and sports, and has taken a strategic direction toward establishing sustainable partnerships with international cities to implement joint development projects for medium-sized cities.

As a modern European community, Chortkivska is rapidly advancing, strengthening its economy — including through foreign investments. In 2019, the community approved the concept and creation of the “Chortkiv-West” Industrial Park, which is the largest by area in the region, covering 87.684 hectares. The park is designed to accommodate enterprises specializing in: mechanical engineering and metalworking, light and food industries, woodworking and furniture production, agro-processing, and other related sectors. The main goal of the industrial park is to stimulate economic growth, create new jobs, and develop modern industrial infrastructure, thus enhancing the industrial potential of the community. Chortkivska community is open to investment and international cooperation and offers favorable conditions for business development and long-term economic partnerships.

Natural Resources

The Chortkivska community is situated in the forest-steppe zone, in the valley of the Seret River — a left tributary of the Dniester — on the Western Podillia Plateau, within the Ternopil structural-plateau plain, at an elevation of 262 meters above sea level. The terrain is characterized by undulating gully plains, interspersed with ravines. Groundwater typically lies at a depth of more than 3 meters, with occasional marshy areas. The community is rich in mineral resources, primarily construction materials and raw materials of sedimentary origin, including limestone, sandstone, construction sand, clay, gravel–loam mixtures, and gypsum.

The predominant soil types are chernozems and gray podzolized soils, underlain by loess-like loams. The podzolized chernozems have a humus–alluvial horizon of 45–55 cm and a total humus horizon of 80–90 cm. With a humus content of 2.8–3.1%, these soils are considered to be of high fertility. The territory lies within the Volyn–Podillia artesian basin and is relatively well supplied with water. Underground water from alluvial and Miocene deposits is used for water supply. The area is generally safe from flooding, and no dangerous geological processes are present. The combination of high soil fertility and favorable climatic conditions makes the area well-suited for the cultivation of agricultural crops. Forests cover approximately 12% of the district’s territory and are predominantly composed of oak–hornbeam and hornbeam stands. Within the boundaries of the Chortkivska community (Chortkiv Raion), there are 15 protected areas and nature reserves with a total area of 603.4588 hectares. The ratio of nature reserve land to the total area of the community — the so-called “nature reserve index” — stands at 3.99%.

Positioning

The Chortkivska community offers strategic advantages for international economic cooperation due to its favorable geographical location near Ukraine’s borders with Moldova, Romania, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia, ensuring access to EU markets. Its proximity to major cities such as Kyiv, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Rivne, and Khmelnytskyi, as well as its safe distance from active combat zones, significantly enhances its appeal for foreign partners. The presence of key road and railway corridors running through the community, a population of 37,191 residents (of which 52% are economically active), and such strategic assets as the Chortkiv-West Industrial Park and rich natural resources (water, land, forests), together with a relatively developed light industry, agricultural production, and food industry, make the community highly attractive for foreign investment and economic partnerships.

The Chortkiv City Council has a proven track record of cooperation with international financial programs, grants, and foreign investors, including participation in initiatives and projects supported by: GIZ Germany, UNDP, NIP (Neighbourhood Investment Platform) via NEFCO Finland, UNHCR Ukraine (Lviv office), U-LEAD with Europe, Covenant of Mayors – EU, Fundacja Q (Poland), PZU (Poland), Greenpeace, Yellowblue Force Foundation with financial support from Citi Ukraine, HEAL Project – a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the World Bank, Ukraine Recovery Programme III, implemented in cooperation with the European Investment Bank, E5P – the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership Fund, NUEE – the Norwegian-Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Initiative Fund, Cash for Refugees INC USA. These partnerships reinforce the community’s commitment to sustainable development and innovation, and they demonstrate its openness to new international initiatives and collaborative projects aimed at improving the quality of life and economic prosperity.

Geography & Logistics

The geographic location of the Chortkivska community offers strategic proximity to Ukraine’s borders with key EU countries: Moldova – 136 km, Romania – 138 km, Poland – 284 km, Hungary – 369 km, Slovakia – 386 km. This advantageous positioning provides direct access to the European Union market and significantly enhances the community’s appeal for international trade and investment. Chortkiv is also conveniently connected to major Ukrainian regional centers by road: Kyiv – 480 km, Chernivtsi – 88 km, Vinnytsia – 230 km, Zhytomyr – 360 km, Ivano-Frankivsk – 110 km, Lviv – 200 km, Rivne – 215 km, Khmelnytskyi – 111 km.

Important transport corridors cross the community, including the international highway M19 (Domanove – Kovel – Chernivtsi – Terebleche), which is part of the European route E85 (Ternopil – Chernivtsi), the territorial road T2001(Buchach – Skala-Podilska), and the regional road P48 (to Kamianets-Podilskyi). The area is also served by a railway line with a branded overnight passenger train on the Kyiv–Ternopil–Yasinya route. Such a combination of international highways, regional roads, and railway connections ensures fast access to infrastructure and international markets, making the community attractive to investors seeking efficient growth and expansion.

Local Business

The territory of the Chortkivska сommunity hosts around 1,500 enterprises of various forms of ownership. The largest among them include: SEBN UA Chortkiv (Chortkiv branch of SE Bordnetze-Ukraine LLC, production of electrical and electronic equipment for motor vehicles), Kalyna Farming LLC (cultivation of grain crops, legumes, and oilseeds), Billerbeck Ukraine Feather and Down Factory LLC (production of finished textile products, mattresses, pillows), Holsky Svit Kompani LLC (production of rusks and dry biscuits, long-life flour confectionery, cakes, pastries, cocoa, chocolate, and sugar confectionery), Agro-Produkt PJSC (production of meat products, prepared animal feed for farm animals), ChortkivMoloko PE and Chortkiv Cheese Plant PJSC (milk processing, production of butter and cheese), Seret-Invest LLC (electricity generation), Skorodynskyi Filvarok LLC (cultivation of grain, legumes, and oilseed crops, seed processing, breeding of sheep, goats, cattle, and buffalo), Chortkiv Energy LLC (electricity generation). These enterprises form the economic backbone of the community, ensuring stable tax revenues, creating jobs, and supporting the development of industrial, agricultural, and energy sectors.