Oleg Muratov became the new deputy chairman of the Odesa Regional State Administration. Previously, for more than 10 years, he held various positions in the State Audit Office, after which he headed the Southern Office of the State Audit Service for more than four years. Oleg Muratov, his deputy, told in an interview with ElitExpert why the official decided to return to the OGA and what plans the new team of Governor Sergey Hrynevetsky is making.
— Earlier, you left OGA, but now you are returning there again. Hrynevetsky called you himself? Well, actually, why did you agree?
— Many people wanted the return of Sergei Rafailovich, because he is the most successful governor of the Odesa region during independent Ukraine. Many projects were developed under him, but after his resignation, unfortunately, some were suspended. There was a program "Regional initiative for 2002-2006", where there were about 25 referrals, which accelerated like a train, but then, after the governor's departure, a "stop tap" happened.
Yes, I received an invitation from him and I want to say that I practically did not think about my answer. I will say more: I would hardly have accepted such an invitation if it had come from someone else. It is a great honor for me to work in a team led by Sergey Rafailovich.
— What will be your first steps in a new position?
— Although I was appointed just a few days ago, I will not be discouraged - I have been studying the issues that I have to solve for more than a month in order to get up to speed. Part of my functionality is an agro-industrial complex, which has one of the key meanings, because the Odessa region is an agricultural region. We understand that the last two years, especially in 2020, there was a severe drought and the volume of industrial crop production halved. If in recent years 4 or more million tons of grain were recorded, and this was the norm, this time they did not even reach two tons.
After starting to study the situation, it turned out that there is a regional program of the agro-industrial complex (APK), from which 416 thousand were allocated. hryvnias, although according to the documents, 19 million hryvnias are provided. We immediately resolved this issue, allocated UAH 16,5 million. As of December 1, support amounted to 416 hryvnias, and on December 30 - already about 17 million. It is, in particular, about the compensation of electricity costs during irrigation. Also, 3,5 million UAH were allocated for compensation for the purchase of elite seeds from producers in the Odessa region, and another 3,5 million UAH for compensation for each unit of livestock. And people already feel it. Together with Sergey Rafailovich, we decided to modernize the management of agriculture into the department of agrarian policy, food and land relations. Because we understand that the opening of the land market is on the threshold. People need to be helped and advised, they need to be informed. Why did I quite successfully manage to implement the audit service case? We conducted an active information policy. For this reason, it is important to show citizens what we are doing and what we have achieved.
Of course, there are also questions about other industries. For example, the construction industry in the Odessa region is developing dynamically. In 10 months, the share of the construction industry in the region was 12,5% = this is the second place after Kyiv. At the same time, if we look at the average salary, it is 20-25% lower than the average in Ukraine. The same thing happens in other areas. We estimated that after raising the average salary in the region to the all-Ukrainian level, local budgets will receive from 100 to 120-130 million UAH in addition every month. This is at least UAH 1,5 billion per hour. You can do a lot with this money. In five years, after receiving these billions, the region can be significantly changed.
As an economist, I don't like it when they say "there is no money." I try to live by the principle: "he who wants, looks for opportunities, and he who does not want, he looks for reasons." Today, a window of opportunity really opened. This happens when such a strong leader as Sergey Rafailovich comes. People are waiting - and this time we have no moral right to let them down.
It is very important that we work together with the city. We understand each other and have nothing in common.
— What is your priority at the moment?
— There are current things that need to be done now, there are medium- and long-term things. Regarding the industries that I supervise, in particular, maritime transport is the most important industry for the region, and there are things that can be solved very quickly. For example, salary arrears in sea trading ports. I have already spoken with their leaders, we understand what and how to do it.
There are a number of environmental problems. We, in the end, have to deal with the Kuyalnytsky estuary. Next, a question of extreme importance is the condition of the Khadzhibeev dam. We understand that this is a time-delayed mine and no one knows when it will explode. These issues need to be solved comprehensively. For example, the water level in Khadzhibeevsky estuary is 2,5 meters above sea level. And in Kuyalnytskyi estuary, on the contrary, minus four to five meters. To solve these two problems, it is necessary to lower the water level in the first estuary by pumping it into the second. In what way? It is necessary to return to the project on deep-water production. Courts and criminal cases are one thing, but, on the other hand, how much money has already been lost on it. A few more years and all this will be lost forever.
There are questions about the reconstruction of coastal fortification structures. We see that landslide processes are taking place across the territory of the entire region. According to preliminary estimates, the region loses about 20-30 hectares of land every hour. We will deal with it. Our team wants to develop a certain document with which we will present to the leaders of the state. Everything must work together: communities, city and regional authorities, as well as the state. We understand that Odesa region is a key region for Ukraine, which needs to be worked on.
— You are one of the hundred winners of the National rating of influence "Elite of Ukraine" in the Odesa region, with which we want to congratulate you. Who do you think are the "elites" in our country?
— You know, this is a discussion question. I have a book on my desk by an author whose advice I try to listen to. Lee Kuan Yew is the first Prime Minister of Singapore, who changed his country beyond recognition. Earlier, Singapore did not even have its own water - the state bought it from Malaysia. The success of Singapore is connected with the fact that Lee Kuan Yew educated the elite. People are not born elite, they become elite.
For Ukraine, the elite means stability. When there are elites, primarily political ones, they find a common language among themselves, which guarantees stability and development for the country. The presence of a stable elite is the key to the country's competitiveness.
Interviewed by Elena Ovchinnikova
