Sumy region is located in the north-east of Ukraine. Its area is 23,8 thousand sq. km, and the population was 1 384 thousand people (in 2000). In the north and north-east Sumy region borders on Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation, as a whole share of borders with Russia in Sumy region is the highest in comparison with all other regions of Ukraine. The favorable geographical position of the region provides all conditions to the harmonious development of the region. Seven main gas pipelines and oil pipelines (Urengoi Pamary-Uzhgorod, Kursk-Sumy-Kiev, Kiev, Bryansk, etc.) pass through Sumy region.
 

More than 60 thousand people - nearly half of all workers in the industry work in the machine-building and metal working branches. Machine-building complex of the region is specialized in the production of highly complicated products, chemical and oil extractive equipment, turbo – compressor units, pumps, pipeline valves, equipment for processing and other branches of industry.

The leading Companies of the region are:

• JSC «Sumy Frunze NPO»
• JSC «Sumy «Nasosenergomash»
• JSC «Centrolit», Sumy
• JSC «Motordetal-Pravex», Konotop
• JSC «Krasny Metallist», Konotop ,
• JSC «Nefteprommash», Akhtyrka.

The fuel and energy complex is more than 20% in the industrial structure of the region and includes enterprises for extraction of oil, gas, peat, producing electricity and thermal energy. The region extracts more than 40% and about 10% of the total state amount of oil and gas output. The key Company of oil and gas industry of Sumy region is Oil and Gas Production Enterprise «Ahtyrkaneftegaz».
Chemical industry is represented by 9 companies, which produce fertilizers, sulfuric acid, chemicals, paint and varnish products, magnetic tape, motion picture film, etc. The largest Companies of chemical industry are JSC «Sumykhimprom» and Shostka Production Association «Svema». In addition, dozens of Companies of light, food and other industries successfully operate in the region.

The most of the industrial potential of the region and almost half of all industrial output are concentrated in Sumy. In addition Sumy is one of the oldest cities in Sloboda Ukraine with own rich history and traditions. Citizens of Sumy are proud of architectural monuments, theaters and museums of the city.