On 14 November, Warsaw hosted a meeting of Special Representatives for Ukraine’s recovery from 19 countries as part of the EU-Ukraine Investment Conference. The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine co-organised this year’s event. The meeting was opened by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, and Special Representatives for Ukraine’s Recovery from 19 countries, including the USA, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Sweden, the Netherlands, as well as the European Union, represented by two Directorates-General — DG GROW and DG NEAR. 

This was the first occasion where such a large number of Special Representatives for Recovery gathered around one table to engage in dialogue with the Government on coordinating priority tasks in reconstruction and economic growth. 

The meeting with the Special Representatives also covered economic issues, including the Ministry of Economy’s priorities for attracting investments, developing B2B contacts, improving the regulatory environment for businesses, fostering trade, and enhancing the export potential of Ukrainian manufacturing enterprises. 

“The Government's efforts to attract greater investment to Ukraine are beginning to yield results. This is evident in the scale of this year’s conference compared to 2023 and in business discussions, which are moving towards far more concrete decisions. However, much work remains — with cooperation with the Special Representatives for Recovery, our efforts will become even more focused and coordinated, enabling the attraction of more private capital for Ukraine’s reconstruction. We see foreign businesses showing interest in not only large but also smaller projects. Therefore, we are already working on differentiated insurance mechanisms, including those accessible to SMEs,” emphasised First Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine Oleksii Sobolev. 

Representatives of the EU Directorates-General — DG NEAR and DG GROW — noted that the best ambassadors for attracting investments to Ukraine are the foreign and international companies that continue operating in the country and launch new projects. The creation of a Unified Public Project Portfolio and the overall reform of public investment management in Ukraine provide convenient opportunities for international partners. 

The US Special Representative for Ukraine’s Recovery, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, thanked the Government for its active readiness to cooperate with the donor community, emphasising that defence capabilities and economic development are inextricably linked. Therefore, investing in Ukraine should not wait until the war ends. Ukraine is consistently progressing in creating a favourable environment for investors, removing regulatory barriers, and building business trust through the implementation of digital tools. 

The Netherlands’ Special Representative for Ukraine’s Recovery, Erica Schouten, highlighted the remarkable success of this year’s investment conference, evidenced by the number of foreign companies participating in matchmaking events on the exhibition sidelines. She stressed the importance of ensuring access to investment tools for small and medium-sized enterprises alongside large businesses. The Netherlands, together with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, is already preparing to launch a new mechanism to support Ukrainian exporters. 

Participants also discussed issues of production insurance, recommendations from the Business Advisory Council, and risk diversification within Ukraine.