Ukraine's membership in the European Union would be a huge advantage for private and public companies across the EU, said Laurent Germain, CEO of Egis Group, at the first EU-Ukraine Investment Conference at the international ReBuild Ukraine trade fair in Warsaw on Wednesday.

 “Ukraine, being the fifth most populous country in the EU, opens access to new consumer markets. Furthermore, 130,000 engineers graduate from Ukrainian universities each year — more than in any other EU country. It makes Ukrainian specialists an important asset for Europe that can help address the growing infrastructure needs”, stated Laurent Germain at a panel discussion on restoring the business environment and attracting investment to Ukraine amid the ongoing war.

The head of a global leader in consulting and engineering emphasized that after Russia's full-scale invasion, Egis did not cease its operations or leave Ukraine. On the contrary, the company deepened its presence, supporting Ukraine's efforts toward reforms and EU membership.

“Egis has been present in Ukraine for 31 years, remaining strong in peaceful times and during the conflict. Having 200 engineers on the ground, we not only rehabilitate the critical infrastructure of Ukraine but also demonstrate a powerful example of how an international company can successfully work in Ukraine, even during war,”, Laurent Germain noted.

Laurent Germain outlined the strategies and priorities that are applied by Egis in Ukraine, particularly in the context of the development of a national transport system and infrastructure projects, such as the expansion of the Kharkiv metro, as well as the recovery of destroyed infrastructure, bridges, and energy facilities.

“The following four main conditions shall be provided for private investors to ensure successful recovery of Ukraine: available financing, clear visibility of projects, clarity in decision-making, and high standards in public procurement. Assurance of these elements will facilitate the involvement of international companies, small and medium enterprises. It will also help Ukraine adopt the EU standards and take full advantage of investments,”, Laurent Germain summarized.

The ReBuild Ukraine conference, dedicated to Ukraine's economic recovery, took place in Warsaw on November 13-14. It was organized by the European Commission and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.

The event brought together representatives of international organizations, government officials, special envoys for Ukraine from Poland, France, Germany, and other EU countries, as well as heads of major business associations. They discussed the initial results of the EU's investment framework program in Ukraine and reviewed Ukraine's progress in integrating into the single European market and implementing business environment reforms.

Egis Group CEO Laurent Germain joined the conference at the invitation of the European Commission as a member of the Business Advisory Board and the President of MEDEF.

Business Advisory Council unites around twenty directors of leading global companies and business associations from Ukraine, the EU and the G7+ countries. The goal of the Council is to coordinate the G7+ donors for Ukraine during decision-making by providing the required recommendations and expertise for improvement of an investment climate in Ukraine and the attraction of investments.

MEDEF is the biggest international movement of French enterprises, leaders of innovative technologies in Ukraine. This association has just finished a mission in Ukraine, the goal of which was to define critical needs of the state and search for ways of their resolution for recovery at local, regional, and national levels.

Egis Group, chaired by Laurent Germain, is one of the main players in Ukraine's recovery, attracting international investment and implementing critical projects in various fields, from construction, transportation, water supply to waste management and climate change adaptation. Egis Group's revenues in 2023 amounted to 1.9 billion euros; the company is represented in more than 100 countries and employs more than 19.5 thousand people.