In 2024, Amber Galbin's companies paid more than half of all taxes paid by amber miners. The group of companies helped clean water channels, provided diesel fuel, and provided sports balls and equipment. Serhiy Opalko, the head of the Vyriv community, said this in an interview. He also explained how the influence of local business has changed in recent years.
Vyriv community: residents and their problems
The Vyriv territorial community was established in 2019. Today it has 12681 residents. The population growth is increasing, says Serhiy Opalko, in particular, 153 children were born in 2024.
“Unfortunately, with the full-scale invasion, we have thirty fallen heroes today. We have fifteen missing guys and one officially in captivity.”
At present, pensioners are facing the problem of the abolition of Chornobyl surcharges. This has caused dissatisfaction, and they are considering going to the government and blocking roads in protest.
«If not for the war, I think everything would be fine. Nevertheless, we are trying to work together with business to develop our community,» said Serhiy Opalko.
Revenues from business increased 4 times
Currently, the Hromada has registered 110 legal entities and 210 individual entrepreneurs. Compared to 2022, the number of businesses has increased: legal entities by 21 and individuals by 31, says Serhiy Opalko.
Last year, they paid to the budget UAH 76 million taxes. Since 2020, when the community was formed, revenues have amounted to only UAH 17 million and have increased accordingly by more than four times. This has had a positive impact on life, concludes Serhiy Opalko:
“We created the housing and communal enterprise Vyri-Service. Then we created a primary health care center (PHC). Since we create jobs and have our own doctors with whom people sign declarations, everything returns to the community, doctors provide services not in the district, but on the ground, in the community.“
Last year, we made repairs in educational institutions. In particular, a modular restroom worth UAH 888 thousand was purchased and installed in the Chabela gymnasium with budget funds. Thanks to co-financing, the community also purchased a new school bus, spending UAH 1.3 million from the budget.
“Amber Galbin paid the most taxes
On the territory of the community sold 48 special permits for the extraction of amber and registered 19 enterprises, who bought them. Serhiy Opalko notes that few of them work and pay taxes to the local budget.
“Amber Galbin has been working with us since 2021. In 2024, they paid more than 50% of the total amount from all the companies that produce in our territory.”.
The money from legal amber mining by enterprises has had an impact on the community budget. In 2021, rent revenues amounted to UAH 688 thousand, in 2022 they increased to UAH 1.8 million, in 2023 - to UAH 3.7 million, and in 2024 - to almost UAH 5.5 million. Serhiy Opalko emphasizes:
«Thanks to these amber enterprises, we were able to level the budget and fulfill the financial plan in 2023.».
At the same time, some companies with special permits have not re-registered. Thus, they do not pay part of the rent and other taxes to the local budget. The amount of revenues could be higher, says Opalko.
“Amber Galbin is a sports fan
In addition to paying taxes, responsible businesses help with infrastructure repairs and respond to other community requests. In particular, an enterprise of the Amber Galbin group of companies« provided an excavator for long-term use for cleaning a pond.
“Amber Galbin also donated money to buy metal to rebuild the bridge in the village of Chudel and provided diesel fuel for road repairs.
Amber Galbin pays special attention to the development of sports.
«Our children took 3rd place in the Sport for All competition in Rivne region. The Side by Side competition is now underway, and we wanted to encourage them to do better. I turned to Oleg Bogelsky (co-founder of the group of companies - ed.) to help with the purchase of sports equipment. They brought us high-quality soccer and basketballs, which we used to award the winners,„ said Serhiy Opalko.
In addition, the community received a car, which will allow the management of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports to move between eleven settlements.
The law on amber mining needs to be finalized
Currently, there is not enough control over amber mining, says Serhiy Opalko.
“I want the law to be finalized and controlled. I want our people to see transparency, to see the indicators of amber production. I want people to have no doubts about the honesty of the work of mining companies.”
Watch a video interview with Serhiy Opalko, head of the Vyrivska territorial community.