Interview with Viktor Leshchynsky, President of the National Expert Construction Alliance of Ukraine and Head of the Independent Expertise “PROEXP”
“Rapid takeoff” – this is how experts characterize the state of affairs in construction for the first 9 months of 2019. And although the annual data will be known in February, we can already say that for the first 9 months of this year, compared to last year, the volume of construction products increased by 20.5% – to UAH 113.9 billion. The cost of construction and installation works also increased by 9%, especially in the construction of transport facilities – to 14%.
What is the quality of projects being implemented in the regions? How close have the standards come to European standards? What gives hope today and what is a pain point in one of the main capital-forming industries of the domestic economy? Viktor Leshchynsky (pictured), president of the National Expert Construction Alliance of Ukraine and head of the independent expertise “PROEXP”, talks about this.
— Viktor Petrovich, what is an indicator of the results of reforms in construction? This is an industry that directly affects the quality of people’s lives: we all live in houses, drive on roads, and use social facilities. Are there any noticeable changes?
— Yes, these are changes that should change the humanitarian component. Decentralization has brought billions of hryvnias to the regions. Local authorities should invest them in the construction of roads, infrastructure, complex transport facilities, and also kindergartens, paramedical and obstetric stations, sports facilities. In short, in everything that previously lacked funds. True, PROEKSP specialists, who received design and estimate documentation from the places, often spoke of its quality as “shocking.”
— Why?
— Because there was a lack of new knowledge, compliance with European norms and standards, and the low quality of personnel training is also felt. The National Expert Construction Alliance of Ukraine includes almost two thousand professionals who are very reputable in their specialization and have unique experience. So we decided together to hold free educational seminars. We have already traveled to 16 regions. For example, we have been to the Odessa region twice. This is a seismic region, and the city has many historical monuments. All this requires very strict adherence to norms, especially safety.
— Do you and your experts conduct these seminars at your own expense? Why?
— The administrative reform has made the united territorial communities an important player in the market of orders. Starting next year, the AHs will become one of the most powerful project customers. And they are our partners.
The communities decide what to build, what people lack, and we — the construction expertise — help make the projects modern, safe, energy-efficient, and financially adequate. Then — all this is implemented on construction sites.
— What, besides funds, did the “reboot” give to the construction industry?
— The requirements that the state began to impose on everything new that is being built gave impetus to changes. For example, from April 1, 2019, the State Building Regulations on the accessibility of all buildings and structures for low-mobility groups of the population came into force. Now local authorities are fully responsible for ensuring that people with special needs, as well as pregnant women or simply people in their late years, can easily and conveniently get into houses, cross roads (especially important for those with visual impairments), and use social institutions without obstacles. Yes, a barrier-free space requires more time and money. But without compliance with these State Building Regulations, there is no way! By the way, four times during the year the state has strengthened control over fire and technogenic safety. The news feed confirms to us every day how important this is. People die in fires due to non-compliance with elementary standards. There can never be too much safety and accessibility!
— The results of the year in the industry show growth in the construction of transport facilities. Are there any changes in quality control here?
— The State Budget for 2020 includes a record amount of UAH 73.7 billion for the Road Fund. Let me remind you that one of the first decrees of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy concerned the quality of roads. This concerns control by independent consulting engineers (in particular, FIDIC) during the reconstruction and construction of roads. In general, quality control, independent assessment, and new technologies and knowledge are what are now beginning to transform construction from the somewhat “dormant” state in which the industry was. Comfort and convenience of life should become an indicator of the implementation of reforms in construction.
— Will builders have the prospect of living and working in Ukraine?
— We have no other choice but to create conditions for decent work for builders. So that they have a decent salary and guarantees of safety at construction sites in their homeland. And also, continuous education is necessary. After all, recruiting people on the station square to implement complex projects is hopeless. I am talking about education and the quality of personnel, because I know very well that in the country, for example, there are 5 or 10 experts in certain areas of construction who are 100% trustworthy. Their conclusion is a real guarantee. We in the National Expert Construction Alliance unite different generations: there are those with 50 years of work experience, and there are also young people. We can take on the most complex projects. By the way, it has been two years since independent non-state expertise began operating in Ukraine. This has become a powerful factor in deregulation and at the same time overcoming corruption. There is a choice, there is no concentration in one hand, there is competition. That’s how I described the prospects for decent work in Ukraine for workers, designers, and experts.
— What will be trending in the construction industry next year?
— Reconstruction of the country. Not in a figurative sense, but in a literal sense. The infrastructure of cities is in a state of agonization. It is necessary to build beautiful squares and new buildings, having “cured” all the communications under them. After all, both water and heat supply, and sewage – all of this has already worked out its resource by 80%. Fountains with boiling water, into which cars dive in the center of the capital, may become not an emergency, but an everyday situation. Reconstruction of the country is also bringing aeration stations, water canals, everything that serves cities and our everyday life to modern needs. Simple things? But the quality of our life depends on them.
