In August 2025, a delegation from the Odesa region paid a working visit to the state of Texas (USA). The delegation was led by Alexander Kharlov, First Deputy Head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.
During the visit, the delegation presented the investment and partnership potential of the Odesa region.
EarthX
This visit was a continuation of the journey that began in April 2023, when the Business Incubator Group Ukraine first organized a visit by a Ukrainian delegation to the annual EarthX International Conference Congress dedicated to Earth Day, which took place in Dallas, Texas, USA. The head of BIG.U, Yevgen Barsukov, was appointed by the EarthX organizers in Ukraine to form delegations and organize visits.
EarthX brings together environmental organizations, businesses, investment companies, government, scientific and non-governmental institutions, interactive programs, and experts in relevant fields. It creates partnerships and platforms that strengthen and accelerate the work of organizations, governments, and individuals who are at the forefront of the most pressing environmental issues and come from a wide range of disciplines, interests, and perspectives, representing a variety of initiatives around the world.
Over the years, our delegations have included representatives of state institutions, professional associations, public associations, businesses, veterans’ organizations, as well as Ukrainian Armed Forces servicemen and heroes of Ukraine. Many negotiations have been held, partnerships have been established, and support projects have been launched. However, we strive to attract assistance to our country not on a selective basis, but at the community and regional levels.
Therefore, at EarthX2025, with the support of the Congress organizers, we held negotiations and prepared the groundwork for a visit by representatives of the Odessa Regional State Administration to the state of Texas. And in September 2025, a delegation from Odesa visited the Texas cities of Dallas, Arlington, La Porte, the large port city of Houston, and Baytown, located on the coast of Galveston Bay.
Building dialogue
During the September visit, the OODA delegation met with representatives of the business community, government agencies, and educational institutions in Texas. At meetings with city leaders, they presented the investment and partnership potential of the Odessa region. They discussed areas that open up opportunities for future projects in economic development, technology, medicine, the food industry, and the exchange of experience in education and the maritime sector. They also discussed areas of exchange of experience and cooperation in the field of veteran policy, community development, and the implementation of exchange programs in various fields.
These steps formed the basis for long-term partnerships aimed at the recovery, security, and growth of Ukrainian communities.
Continuation of cooperation
The dialogue that began during the Odessa delegation’s visit to the United States continued online. Representatives of the Odessa region met with Vitaliy Tarasyuk, Consul General of Ukraine in Houston, and medical experts from that American city.
The American partners represent Mission for Ukraine, an association of doctors and engineers that develops and manufactures innovative prostheses. This initiative is already successfully operating in the United States and Poland and now seeks to scale up its activities in Ukraine.
Odesa Region confirmed its readiness to implement advanced medical and technological solutions, emphasizing that such cooperation will provide high-quality and modern assistance to those who need it most. This meeting was an important step towards the implementation of new joint projects that will improve the lives of Odesa Region residents.
Cooperation that delivers results
The Business Incubator Group Ukraine highly appreciates the willingness of the Odessa Regional Military Administration to cooperate with civil society for the socio-economic development of the Odessa region and thanks it for its fruitful cooperation in the development of international relations. It is precisely the joint work of state institutions, civil society, and business that allows us to lay the foundation for real growth in the well-being of the region’s residents despite the challenges of war.
Business Diplomacy from BIG.U
The visit of the Odesa delegation to the US marked a new stage for us in the use of business diplomacy methods not only at the level of individual communities or businesses, but also at the level of Ukraine’s regions.
We believe that business diplomacy is a key tool for promoting the interests of Ukraine, which is actively integrating into the global economy, and strengthening its position in the international arena.
We are systematically building bridges between Ukrainian communities, businesses, and international partners. Our focus is on the US, the UK, Canada, and other countries where we already have established contacts and practical results.
We pay particular attention to the development of horizontal relations between companies, non-profit organizations, local communities, cities, and now regions. It is these ties that form a solid foundation for Ukraine’s socio-economic development and recovery.
