Sovetskaya Gavan (SovGavan) with a population 29,100 (2008) people is located in Khabarovsk Krai (Region). Situated on the southeastern shore of a deep, narrow gulf of the Tatar Strait, the port has one of the best natural harbors of far-eastern Russia. Its principal economic activities include fishery and seafood production, timber production, wood processing, ship repair, and cargo processing. Sovetskaya Gavan is Russia’s third-largest naval base of the Pacific Fleet. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the military forces in the area have been significantly reduced. Commercial activity has now replaced the military focus in the region and the city has actively sought international connections. To learn more about the city, click here.

 

 

The Sovetskaya Gavan participants traveled to Washington State July 26 to August 4, 2008. While in Bremerton, the participants from Sovetskaya Gavan who included local government officials and community leaders, learned about economic development and how to attract investment to their city. The Sovetskaya Gavan delegation also acquired knowledge on how to engage citizens and encourage them to participate in public processes. The delegation learned about Bremerton’s revitalization projects that generate strong economic benefits. They discussed public participation in Bremerton’s planning process, and ways to effectively engage citizens. The Delegation learned how local Bremerton officials work with Bremerton citizens. The program also included meetings with Kitsap Economic Development Alliance, tour of Harrison Medical Center, tour of Olympic College, City Council Meeting, tour of Casad Dam & Wastewater Treatment Plant, tour of Gold Mountain Golf Facility, and a visit to towns of Poulsbo and Port Gamble.

 

Partnership Project: Increasing Citizen Participation in Municipal Management and Increasing Confidence of Residents in Local Authorities
Project Start and End Dates: August 1, 2009 - January 31, 2010

The City of Sovetskaya Gavan together with the Sovetskaya Gavan Municipal Public Organization “Sports Club Germes” launched a joint partnership project to increase the confidence of residents in local authorities and increase citizen participation in municipal management. Based upon consultations provided by the City of Bremerton, the Sovetskaya Gavan partners will implement a pilot project on municipal park reconstruction to engage citizens in social and economic development of the city. They also plan to improve the qualification of administration employees and local community leaders in the sphere of social technologies and community outreach; increase public awareness of the local government’s activities; and strengthen the ability to influence adoption and implementation of the local government’s decisions by local citizens.