The forum gathered about 650 participants from different countries and regions of Ukraine last year. At present Kherson region has a record number of guests – about 750 guests, including representatives of foreign trade missions and large companies, investors and businessmen, diplomats and government officials, representatives of international organizations, EU member states, and about 50 journalists. Head of Kherson Regional State Administration Andrii Hordieiev said, “The development of investment activity of Kherson region is one of the priority areas of the region’s economy, as it lays the foundation for economic growth, receipt of money to local budgets, creation of new jobs, and the improvement of infrastructure”.
“Tavrian Horizons” is a permanent business platform. It is a platform within which representatives of business community from around the world discuss key issues of the international cooperation, find new partners and discover for themselves Kherson region. The forum annually attracts a wide range of partners. Last year, NIBULON presented its investment project in Kherson region as part of the International Investment Forum “Tavrian Horizons”. As part of the project the company has constructed a state-of-the-art transshipment terminal for shipments of grain and oilseeds on river and sea transport in Hola Prystan town in 100 days. .
This year, NIBULON’s General Director Oleksiy Vadaturskyy introduced the company’s new investment plans on developing logistics in Ukraine. At present NIBULON is a Ukraine’s leader in agricultural exports. Therefore, the company has the possibility to meet the needs of Belarus in high-quality agricultural products that will be delivered by water transport. Kherson region plays an important role in implementation of these investment plans.
The primary task for implementation of this project is revival of E-40 navigable waterway and river transportation on the route the Baltic Sea – Gdansk – the Dnipro River – the Black Sea, namely: dredging on the limiting areas of the Dnipro Reservoir and Dniprodzerzhynsk Reservoir, increasing the waterway on the area Kyiv Hydroelectrical Power Station – Nizhni Zhary required for river-sea vessels.
According to specialists, potential goods turnover between Ukraine and Belarus is 10 million tons. In particular, we can supply grain and grain products, oilseeds and oil meal, all-purpose containers, building materials (sand, clay, gravel, gypsum), vegetables, fruit, and juices to Belarus. Belarusian petrochemical products, potash, nitrogen and other mineral fertilizers, tyres, products of wood processing industry, agricultural machinery, tractors, cars and trucks are in demand in Ukraine.
The result of the forum is a Memorandum of Cooperation and Partnership between Kherson Regional State Administration, Gomel Regional Executive Committee and NIBULON. 
“The Republic of Belarus is an industrial state. We have no minerals, access to the sea, so we have a well-developed manufacturing industry. We need to import raw materials, process them, and get a finished product. Therefore, we look for ways to the sea, as it is very important for us. The longer the waterway is, the cheaper logistics is. The access to the Black Sea is of great importance to us, as our products will be competitive in all markets of the world”, said the chairman of Gomel Regional Executive Committee Volodymyr Dvornik.
In turn, the Consul General of the Republic of Belarus in Odesa Volodymyr Chekhlov stressed that absence of such work before was wastefulness.
Andrii Hordieiev commented historical significance of the event on Facebook, “We build “Water gates of Ukraine” with NIBULON and unite two states – Ukraine and Belarus, Kherson region and Gomel region. The revival of E-40 navigable waterway will greatly simplify trade between Ukraine and Belarus, allow us to remove trucks from the regional centers located on the Dnipro River. “Water gates of Ukraine” will open new prospects and opportunities for development, and help to establish trade relations with other countries”.