Ukraine and the United Kingdom are officially launching a permanent Economic and Trade Dialogue and initiating a partnership to jointly work on reforming the public procurement system. The relevant agreements were formalized on 17 January in Kyiv during the First Forum of the Century Partnership.
During the forum, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, Anna Artemenko, took part in a dedicated meeting focused on the UK–Ukraine Economic and Trade Dialogue. The parties discussed public procurement reform and joint plans to support its implementation, priorities and measures in the areas of insurance and investment, the Digital Trade Agreement and the TechBridge project.
The outcome of the meeting was the signing of a number of documents that move last year’s theoretical agreements into the practical domain.
- Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are establishing a permanent Economic and Trade Dialogue.
This Dialogue will serve as an official platform for cooperation aimed at business development, investment attraction, and the removal of trade barriers between the two countries. Its objective is to strengthen trade cooperation, including through the development and deepening of mutual understanding of key areas of potential growth.
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will support the reform of Ukraine’s public procurement system.
The goal of cooperation under this track is to help make Ukraine’s public procurement system more effective, enabling the state to choose durable and modern solutions rather than merely the cheapest materials or services. This reflects the implementation of one of the key international procurement principles — value for money.
“This is not only about trade preferences or the exchange of experience — it is about a shared vision of the future, in which Ukraine becomes a full-fledged participant in global markets, while British business gains a reliable and promising partner. The documents signed today and the launch of the permanent Dialogue lay the foundation for long-term growth and effective recovery. We value the United Kingdom’s support in transforming Ukraine’s economy already today,” Anna Artemenko emphasized.
For reference:
On 17 January, Kyiv hosted the First Forum of the Century Partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, marking the anniversary of the signing of the historic 100-Year Partnership Agreement between the two countries. The forum focused on partnership in action and the tangible results achieved to date.
Key topics of discussion included Ukraine’s recovery, innovation development, and the strengthening of defense cooperation. Participants also focused on economic growth, cultural dialogue, and the importance of the human dimension in the process of large-scale recovery.
The Agreement between Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on a comprehensive strategic partnership for 100 years was signed on 16 January 2025. It established a long-term framework for cooperation in security, defense, and the economy, including enhanced support for weapons production, as well as cooperation in energy, science and technology.