Warsaw, 13 November 2024
At today’s first “European Union – Ukraine Investment Conference” organised by the EU and the Government of Ukraine in Warsaw, Poland, the EU launched a Call for Expression of Interest to mobilise private EU investment in critical areas to support Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts.
Under the Call, EU businesses, including joint ventures, or consortia involving both EU and Ukrainian companies, are invited to submit proposals until 1st March 2025. Proposals will be reviewed and connected to the best suited investment projects funded the Ukraine Investment Framework, which is an integral pillar under the EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility. By encouraging business partnerships and EU private sector engagement in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, the EU also helps further integration of Ukraine into the EU Single Market.
Olivér Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement said:“Ukraine’s reconstruction requires both public funding and partnerships with the private sector. By bringing these efforts together, we can maximise investment, support the country’s recovery and gradual integration into the EU Single Market. Indeed, fostering the private sector involvement in Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction processes will be key to its success.”
Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister of Ukraine, added: “The launch of the EU’s Call for Expression of Interest is an important step toward attracting investments for Ukraine’s reconstruction. We are dedicated to fostering a favorable environment for foreign investment. EU-Ukraine Investment Conference allow us to remind international businesses that war is not an embargo on investment; we must unite our efforts around Ukraine’s recovery now, without waiting for the war to end.”
The priority areas of the Call are based on the Ukraine Plan as well as the Strategic Orientations of the Ukraine Investment Framework, which outline key economic priority sectors requiring Foreign Direct Investment to support Ukraine’s socio-economic recovery. These include:
- Energy: Developing sustainable energy solutions, including renewable energy projects and modernisation of existing energy infrastructure.
- Critical Raw Materials: Investing in processing key minerals and resources needed for high-tech industries and renewable energy technologies.
- Processing industry and manufacturing: Revitalising and modernising the manufacturing sector to boost industrial competitiveness.
- Construction materials: Support reconstruction from housing to public buildings, including by investing in the construction material industry, construction companies and construction supervisors.
- Information technology and digital transformation: Strengthening the digital infrastructure and technology to foster innovation and growth across sectors.
- Transport and export logistics: Rebuilding and modernising transport, logistics, and public infrastructure to support connectivity.
Background
The first EU – Ukraine Investment Conference, organised on 13 and 14 November in the framework of the 4th ReBuild Ukraine International Exhibition, marks a milestone in mobilising private investment in Ukraine. The conference brings together over 5,000 participants, including companies, banks, and investors from Ukraine, the EU, and beyond, to mobilise private investment towards Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation.
Over the two days, discussions will focus on initial results of the EU’s Ukraine Investment Framework to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction on its path to the EU, as well as the critical role of mobilising private investment, in particular the importance of public-private partnerships in driving municipal rebuilding efforts. Around 300 European and Ukrainian companies, notably SMES, from different sectors, including energy, construction and infrastructure, will be taking part in matchmaking sessions. Specialised workshops are taking place the second day focused on attracting EU Foreign Direct Investment into Ukraine, expanding private equity opportunities, addressing war insurance solutions, Ukraine’s EU accession as a business opportunity, environment of doing business in Ukraine as well as Solidarity Lanes, logistics and trade.
Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU and its Member States made available almost €122 billion in financial, humanitarian, and military assistance to Ukraine and to cater for Ukrainians’ needs in the EU.
This includes €15.6 billion mobilised under the Ukraine Facility of up to €50 billion in grants and loans for the period 2024-2027. The Facility supports Ukraine’s efforts to sustain macro-financial stability, promote short-term recovery as well as rebuild and modernise the country whilst implementing key reforms on its EU accession track.
As an integral pillar of the Ukraine Facility, the Ukraine Investment Framework is designed to attract public and private investments for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine. It is equipped with financial instruments totalling €9.3 billion, with €7.8 billion in loan guarantees and €1.51 billion in blended finance. The aim of the Ukraine Investment Framework is to mobilise €40 billion of investments for the reconstruction, modernisation and long-term growth of Ukraine, supporting the objectives and the implementation of the Ukraine Plan consistently with EU policy priorities. So far, €1.4 billion in grants and guarantees from the EU budget have been mobilised for investments programmes in energy, municipal infrastructure and to boost finance access for small and medium sized companies and invest in their production capacity, as part of the Ukraine Investment Framework.
More information
- Call for expressions of interest to mobilise private EU investment in critical areas to support Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts
- Webpage on the Ukraine Investment Framework & Call for Expression of Interest
- Factsheet Ukraine Investment Framework
- Webpage on EU support for Ukraine.
Source – EU Commission