18
April
Welcoming words
Opening Plenary
High-level Plenary - Boost the Role of Business in Ukraine's Recovery, Taking Stock on EU Support, Investment Mobilisation and Future Plans
This session aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the European Union's support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian invasion and Ukraine’s path towards EU membership. It serves as a critical stocktaking exercise to evaluate the impact of the EU's assistance so far, notably its efforts to boost business and investment. The focus will then shift to a forward-looking part of the discussion, namely on the upcoming initiatives under the Ukraine Facility and its investment instruments designed to bolster Ukraine's resilience, reconstruction, economic recovery, and long-term modernisation.
Reconstruction is Happening Now - The Success Stories: Businesses that Make a Difference in Recovering & Rebuilding Ukraine
Coffee Break
Financial Markets for Ukraine's Prosperity, Leaving No One Behind
The financial sector has a critical role to play in providing the financial means within the broader context of Ukraine's reconstruction: financial institutions have a crucial role to play driving economic recovery. Currently, Ukraine's banking sector is focused on achieving stability and modernisation, with EU-based and Ukrainian companies gearing up for collaborative efforts. The envisioned path forward entails closer integration with the EU financial markets, increased investment, and thereby contributing to of s economic integration. Given the volatile nature of war-affected zones, comprehensive and robust investment insurance policies are imperative. These measures act as a safety net, providing reassurance to stakeholders and investors, political and war risk insurance, fostering stability amid the turbulent environment, and supporting the much-needed economic resurgence in Ukraine.
Accelerating Ukraine's Single Market Integration and Cultivating a Favourable Business Environment
The objective of this session is to assess the challenges and opportunities for Ukraine to further integrate with the EU Single Market, and talk about the networks and tools set up by the Commission to support Ukrainian businesses to internationalise, innovate and establish contacts with EU companies. Another topic to be raised in the panel is cultivation of favourable and stable business environment in Ukraine and how the EU support can contribute to improve it.
How Ukrainian Banks Support Economic Recovery
Networking Lunch
Business Leaders Lunch (By Invitation Only)
Empowering Ukraine’s Energy Future
The energy sector in Ukraine has faced significant challenges due to targeted Russian attacks, leading to a decline in electricity demand and generation. To ensure energy security, independence, and a stronger economic relationship with the European Union, it is crucial to focus on developing renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, and biomass. The EU energy landscape has been affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, amplifying calls for an accelerated energy transition and increased grid capacity for new renewable energy projects.
Rebuilding future Ukraine's infrastructures
Russia’s war of aggression has led to substantial harm to the country's infrastructure, impacting public infrastructure as well as residential and commercial properties. The active involvement of privately owned companies is indispensable for the achievement in the reconstruction process. The key focus should centre on the reconstruction of infrastructure, housing, construction industry and the development of industrial parks and new city projects, improving crucial services for the population, and fostering the integration of Ukraine’s economy with the European Union market, all while seeking ways to enhance operational efficiency within the reconstruction sectors:
Coffee Break
The Future of Trade of Ukraine and the European Union: Opportunities and Prospects
The EU is Ukraine's largest trading partner, accounting for 55.2% of its trade in goods in 2022. To bolster the Ukrainian economy in times of war, the EU granted Ukrainian exports full tariff-free access to the EU market in June 2022 via the EU Autonomous Trade Measures (ATM) for Ukraine. The discussion around the third renewal of the ATMs have brought to light some political challenges of increasing Ukraine’s access to the EU’s agricultural markets. On a separate track, the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) as part of the Association Agreement provides for further integration of Ukraine into the EU’s single market in specific areas. The February 2023 Priority Action Plan intends to bring Ukraine closer to the EU single market in areas such as telecommunications and roaming, technical regulations for industrial products and public procurement. Ukraine and the European Union have also announced their intention to relaunch consultations for further reciprocal trade liberalisation under the Association Agreement.
Closing remarks
Networking cocktail