It is important for the company to get good quality results. Metinvest Group was the first in Ukraine to start to implement the city sustainable development approach — from system annual programs of social partnership ten years ago to the implementation of long-term and comprehensive projects in Mariupol since 2015. As part of the singed memorandum of cooperation, the company jointly with the municipality plans to take part in such programs as "More Than Just Care", "More Than Just Steel" and "More Than Just a Dream".
Some crucial healthcare projects included in the More Than Just Care program are already in progress. For example, Metinvest Group sponsored a major renovation of infectious disease department No. 2 at municipal hospital No. 4. Next on the agenda is department No. 1 and bacteriological laboratory. Creating municipal laboratory and diagnostic centres, refurbishing an infectious disease department at municipal hospital No. 1, and carrying out a major renovation of endocrine department at municipal hospital No. 4 are all encompassed in the program of projects.
As part of the More Than Just Steel program, it is planned to build four steel-framed facilities, the first of which has been completed. The city wharf was reconstructed with the help of Metinvest steelmakers and maintenance plants. Furthermore, two residential steel-framed buildings and an administrative and social service centre will be constructed in the central district of Mariupol. Steel construction is the most promising modern practice. It is more cost effective and functional than conventional construction techniques. Multi-storey buildings can be constructed within a short span of time and be of any design, yet they are always practical and reliable.
The More Than Just a Dream program includes projects that help redefine the notion of the green and prosperous city. It includes a two-phased reconstruction of the Gurova Park and a reconstruction of the Svoboda Square, the Levoberezhnaya Quay, the Peschannyi Beach, and the Yakor Lane. The Svoboda Square reconstruction is completed. It accommodates a cutting edge system in the form of doves that was presented by Metinvest Group for the City Day to hold visual shows.
Yuriy Ryzhenkov, Chief Executive Officer of Metinvest Group:
“Business cannot exist separately from the city, especially when it comes to enterprises that are main employers for around 30% of the working age population. They are our people, and we want them to live in a comfortable city. We invested UAH 850 million in social projects in Mariupol over a ten-year period. We never stepped back from our commitments despite tough times, war, economic recession, and pandemic. In the critical situation, we allocated additional funds, because the development of cities wins as much attention of the company's shareholders as the modernization of enterprises. They are willing to help and they help directly participating in the promotion of sustainable development of cities and communities.”
Vadym Boychenko, Mariupol City Mayor:
“Partnership with Metinvest helped execute many projects that were important for the city and its residents: from comfortable parks and squares, modern areas for young people and administrative service centres to the installation of oxygen systems and renovation of hospitals, which is required today. With the synergy between business and municipality, there is confidence that we will implement all the planned projects raising the quality of healthcare and education, improve infrastructure, and make the city of Mariupol more comfortable to live in.
Next year, Mariupol will see the first steel building. The construction of the modern building will require around 300 tons of steel that will be produced by Azovstal Iron and Steel Works and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol that are part of Metinvest Group. The building walls will be made from reinforced concrete, thus making it possible to speed up the construction and erection. Furthermore, a steel frame can be easily reinforced or reconstructed or dismantled at the end of its service life, thus offering further economic and environmental benefits.
As a reminder: when Ukraine faced a risk of pandemic, the public healthcare system was absolutely not ready for a new challenge. There was a shortage of equipment to administer aid to ill people with severe reactions resulting from the coronavirus – modern lung ventilators, sample testers, personal protective gear for medical workers, and express test kits. Rinat Akhmetov was the first to offer help to the country. As early as in February, Rinat Akhmetov allocated UAH 300 million to help the country combat COVID-19. It is the largest contribution one benefactor made to the public healthcare of Ukraine. For efficiency, the Foundation developed the Fight against COVID-19 in Ukraine project that became part the Rinat Akhmetov - Saving Lives program. The project is unique in Ukraine. It is the largest-scale private initiative aiming to help public healthcare facilities fight against the coronavirus. To address the most important medical needs in the country, Rinat Akhmetov combined the resources of the Foundation, Shakhtar football club and other SCM assets. Since February 2020, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has been providing doctors who are on the front line during coronavirus with everything they need. More than 200 personal protective gear items were provided to public hospitals. Furthermore, the hospitals received 320,000 express test kits from the Foundation. Purchasing more than 200 top-notch lung ventilators for public hospitals was a key component of aid to the country as part of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation project "Fight against COVID-19 in Ukraine".
In turn, Vadym Novynskiy's International Charitable Foundation, in honour of the Feast of the Intercession of the Theotokos, handed over 1 million medical masks, 100,000 express test kits, 10 lung ventilators, 10 infection chambers, 850 biosafety suits, 1,000 goggles for doctors, three diagnostic PCR systems with disposable test kits, and other equipment.”