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Main European watershed between basins of the Baltic and Black seas passes through the region's territory. Here a row of important waterways of Central-Eastern Europe – Dniester, Western Bug and Syan take beginning.
By administrative structure Lviv Region is divided into 20 districts and has 43 cities (including seven cities of regional submission), 34 settlements of urban type and over 1850 rural settlements. Area of the region's territory makes 21 8000 sq. km. Amount of population in the region is almost 2,61 mln. persons. Share of urban population is 61%. Average density of population is over 120 persons.
Over 90% of regional population is Ukrainians. However 250 000 representatives of other nationalities live in the region.
Lviv Region is rich in minerals such as anthracite coal, natural gas, oil, sulphur, peat, ozocerite, kitchen and potassium salts, raw material for production of cement, limestone and slate marl, building and refractory clays and others. The special riches are large supplies of medical mineral waters on which base the famous in the world Lviv resorts function.
The climate of the region is moderately continental. Natural conditions and resources of the region are friendly to development of national economy.
Lviv Region has one of the most developed transport networks. Important railway, motor-car, pipeline and electric highways connecting Ukraine with the countries of Central Europe pass through its territory. Major railways are Kyiv–Lviv–Prague and Warsaw–Peremishl–Lviv–Bucharest. Main motorways are Lviv– Rivne–Kyiv, Lviv–Ternopil–Vinnytsya–Kyiv, Lviv–Ivano-Frankivsk–Chernivtsi and Lviv–Uzhhorod.
Main economic centers are Lviv, Drogobych, Stryy, Novy Rozdil, Chervonograd and Sokal.
Lviv Region is industrially developed region of Ukraine. The region has favourable factors for development of agrarian production. Natural conditions promote growing of cereals, potato, vegetables, sugar beets, flax, development of meat and milk cattle breeding, pig breeding and poultry farming.
Last year the rates of growth of gross agricultural product made 2906,0 mln. hryvna.
Leading regional sectors are food industry and processing of agricultural raw material, machine-building, chemical and petrochemical, cellulose-paper, printing industry, publishing business, forest and woodworking industry.
Lviv Region provides 100% of national volume of newsprint, chisels, autoloaders, over 98% of lighting electric lamps, almost 80% of truck cranes and over 27% of busses.
The leading enterprises of the region in machine-building are follows as OJSC «LAZ», CJSC «Avtonavantazhuvach», Stryy Railway Car Repair Works; in light and food industry – JV «Vesna», OJSC «Mayak», CJSC «Sewing Company Svitanok», OJSC «Sewing Factory «Stritex» and JV «Laura». The leaders in wood working industry are JV «Crono-Lviv» and Evroshpon Ltd. The enterprises of cellulose-paper and printing industry as Zhydachiv Cellulose-Paper Works, Dunapack-Ukraine Ltd and OJSC «Factory of Paper Goods and Printing «Biblios» extend production volumes.
The production of industrial goods in majority of industries grows annually. During last years there is a tendency of growth of volumes of foreign investments in the industrial sector. In particular, the volume of foreign investments made 6840,0 mln. hryvna in 2006 and directed in development of social sphere (capital building at the expense of budgetary transfers and attracted facilities) – 258,2 mln. hryvna, guard of historical-cultural inheritance (53,9 mln. hryvna), gasification of settlements (31,2 mln. hryvna), housing building at the expense of all sources of financing (649 100 sq. m).
Investments came in 1136 regional companies.
By volume of investments the region takes sixth place among other regions of Ukraine.
In the economy of Lviv Region the growth of industrial production volumes made 8,5% and growth of tax incomes to the budgets of all levels – 24,3% last year.
In particular, the growth of incomes to the local budgets during 2004–2006 was provided by annual substantial increase of income tax as basic source of filling income part.
A positive dynamics is observed in the structure of foreign trade turnover: at the general increase of commodity turnover of the region with foreign partners the share of import decreased and share of export increased.
The enterprises of Lviv Region have business contacts with almost 100 countries of the world. In particular, in the regional structure of foreign trade basic partners are follows as Poland, Germany, Russian Federation, Denmark and Italy. Biggest exporters are OJSC «Oil-Refining Complex «Galychyna», Leoni Ltd, OJSC «Drogobych Chisel Works», Crono-Ukraine Ltd, OJSC «Stryy Sewing Factory «Stritex».
In the structure of export the most commodity groups are textile and textile wares, machines, equipment, electrical equipments and its components, wood and wood wares.
The region mainly imports oil and oil products, textile materials, plastics and rubber, products of chemical industry.
During last years there is a positive tendency at the regional consumer market. Growth of retail commodity turnover in the region is accompanied by development of network of modern commercial enterprises due to reconstruction, capital repair and new building, and also introduction of new technologies, progressive methods of sale. In 2006, 150 new commercial enterprises with the general area almost 90 000 sq. m were put into service and created over 2000 jobs. In 2006 the nominal incomes of population grew by 25,1%.
The situation is improved on the labour market. The registered unemployment rate decreased. So, at the beginning of 2005 it was 4,05% and as of January 1, 2007 – 2,7%.
Work on creation of new jobs is activated. The demand of companies, establishments and organizations of the region in employees at the beginning of 2007 made 4 000 persons. Last three years 50 000 jobs are annually created on average. 53 600 jobs were created in 2006.
The region is known as one of the best in Ukraine places of recreation and tourism. Here there are famous resorts of Truskavets, Morshyn and Skhydnytsya. The biggest centers of cognitive tourism is Lviv, Zhovkva, Drogobych, Gorodok, Sambir and Zolochiv.
Administrative center of the region – Lviv is ancient Ukrainian city, one of the biggest cultural, economic, administrative and transport centers of Ukraine. The city by amount of historical-architectural sights takes first place. Central part of the city is put to the UNESCO list of world inheritance.
Lviv is one of the powerful cells of scientific activity in Ukraine. Western Scientific Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine is located here. Most famous scientific establishments are Institute of Ukraine Study, Institute of Archeography, Institute of Regional Study, Physics-Mechanics Institute, Institute of Applied Problems of Mechanics and Mathematics, Geological Survey Institute, Institute of Ecology of Carpathians.
Lviv Region has stable state traditions and high activity of population aiming to see the region a cultural and art, educational-scientific and tourist center of not only Ukraine but also Europe on the whole.
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