Zelenskyy holds first meeting of Intl Advisory Group on attracting investments to Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held the first meeting of the International Advisory Group on Investment Attraction and Economic Development of Ukraine, the presidential press service reported.
"Today we're discussing Ukraine's investment priorities, focusing on what's most important to us. Even during the war, after such a terrible winter, our country is still alive," Zelenskyy noted during the meeting.
The meeting participants focused on issues of Ukraine's energy sustainability, preparation for the next winter, identifying and implementing investment projects for Ukraine, and investment opportunities in the defense industry.
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal described the scale of the losses suffered by the Ukrainian energy system as a result of systematic Russian attacks and the restoration needs. In collaboration with the World Bank, a comprehensive strategy for the development of the Ukrainian energy system will be developed in the coming months. This strategy aims to make the system decentralized and flexible. Furthermore, five key investment clusters have already been identified.
"On March 1, all our local authorities will present an energy development plan for next winter. We'll have six to seven months to develop various energy sources. Our people need this. In any case, even when the war is over, we'll still have this shortage. Therefore, today, this is a very important, very useful investment in our energy sector," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka reported that Ukraine, together with its partners, has developed approximately 40 investment projects for post-war recovery and development. In addition to the current priority energy sector, these projects also cover defense, technology, transport, logistics, infrastructure, critical minerals, green metallurgy and decarbonization of the steel industry, and housing construction. Kachka invited international business representatives to participate in the implementation of at least ten of these projects.
Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Strategic Issues Oleksandr Kamyshin noted that the Ukrainian defense industry is not only the foundation of security but also an area for investment. In March, Ukraine plans to hold a major presentation of its defense industry in the United States, and then in Europe.
The international advisory group will work on an ongoing basis on important projects for Ukraine's economic recovery.
