Суспільно-географічні аспекти вивчення інвестиційної привабливості Одеського регіону в системі регіонального розвитку України

Abstract

Стаття присвячена науковому обґрунтуванню інвестиційної привабливості Одеського регіону в системі регіонального розвитку України з урахуванням підходів суспільної географії. Розкрито теоретичні засади та окреслено методологію дослідження з поєднанням аналітичного, статистичного, порівняльно-географічного, кореляційного та графічного підходів. Практичне значення дослідження полягає у розробленні рекомендацій щодо основних засобів ефективної регіональної політики вирівнювання та підвищення конкурентоспроможності Одеської області у післявоєнний період.

The article investigates the investment attractiveness of Odesa region in the system of regional development of Ukraine through the lens of human geography. The research is situated in the context of deep structural transformations of the national economy, full-scale war and the need for post-war reconstruction, when capital investment becomes a key resource for restoring infrastructure, supporting employment and strengthening regional competitiveness. Particular attention is paid to Odesa region as a coastal, border and transit territory with significant natural-resource, transport-logistic, agrarian, recreational and scientific-educational potential, whose investment role extends beyond regional boundaries and affects the development of the entire Southern macro-region of Ukraine. The purpose of the study is to provide a scientific justification of the spatial patterns, structure and determinants of investment attractiveness of Odesa region and to assess its contribution to the national system of regional development. The empirical base is formed by official statistics of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine and the Main Department of Statistics in Odesa region for 2019–2023. The methodology combines analytical, statistical, comparative-geographical, correlation and graphical methods. Capital investment dynamics, sectoral and territorial structure, foreign direct investment (FDI) and the relationships between investment activity and key socio-economic indicators are examined. The results show that Odesa region consistently ranks among the top five regions of Ukraine in terms of capital investment, providing about 6 % of the national volume. After a decline in 2022 caused by military risks, partial recovery of investment activity is observed in 2023, primarily due to domestic sources. The sectoral structure of investments is diversified, with the leading roles of industry, transport and logistics, agriculture and construction, alongside a gradual increase in agrarian and energy-related projects. FDI remains an important component of regional development, with dominant positions of investors from Cyprus, Turkey, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom and a visible shift towards port, logistic, agrarian and renewable energy projects. A pronounced spatial asymmetry of investment development is revealed. According to per capita capital investment, the highest indicators are concentrated in port-adjacent and highly urbanised areas, while inland agrarian districts lag behind. Correlation analysis demonstrates strong positive relationships between investment activity and industrial output (r = 0.81), level of urbanisation (r = 0.77), average wages (r = 0.74) and transport accessibility (r = 0.71), as well as a moderate correlation with the size of the economically active population (r = 0.63). This confirms that concentration of industry, dense infrastructure networks and advanced urban centres are the main territorial drivers of investment growth. The application of human-geographical approaches makes it possible to integrate economic indicators with characteristics of settlement patterns, human capital and local labour markets, thereby deepening the understanding of spatial disparities and the role of Odesa region in the national investment space. The practical significance of the research lies in the formulation of recommendations for regional policy aimed at diversifying sources of funding, supporting local self-government and small and medium-sized businesses, reducing territorial imbalances in access to infrastructure and strengthening the post-war competitiveness of Odesa region as a key growth pole in Southern Ukraine.