The High-Level Opening of the EU-Ukraine Business Summit brings together key European and Ukrainian leaders to reaffirm the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s recovery and long-term economic resilience. As Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty, the EU stands firmly as its strongest economic and political partner, ensuring that reconstruction efforts are aligned with Ukraine’s EU accession path and economic modernisation.

As Ukraine progresses on its EU accession path, ongoing reforms are shaping a more transparent, predictable, and competitive business environment. This panel, co-organised with Italy in the lead-up to URC2025, will examine how regulatory alignment with the EU Single Market, anti-corruption measures, and economic modernisation are creating new opportunities for businesses in both Ukraine and the EU.

Ukraine’s reconstruction represents a long-term investment in Europe’s industrial capacity. Public investment in infrastructure, energy, transport, and construction is driving the modernisation of Ukraine’s industrial base, while its deepening economic integration with the EU is set to reinforce Europe’s reindustrialisation and strategic resilience. As Ukraine aligns with EU industrial and regulatory standards, these efforts will help diversify supply chains, strengthen industrial ecosystems, and enhance economic competitiveness across the continent. In this context, Ukraine’s integration into the EU is not only a geopolitical imperative but also a strategic economic opportunity for Europe as a whole.

Through videos and live Q&A, investors and beneficiaries will share insights on overcoming challenges, leveraging EU support, and expanding business operations.

Short video and demo by DG CNECT on their prototype of an AI-based Digital Twin for reconstruction.

De-risking is key to reviving international trade, attracting domestic and foreign investment. This panel will discuss de-risking tools under the Ukraine Investment Framework and bring together global industry leaders to address barriers to investment. Speakers will discuss how tailored solutions, guarantees, insurance and regulatory support can restore investor confidence and enable long-term economic recovery.

This interactive session will highlight real investment projects and opportunities in Ukraine. Featuring insights from the European Commission, the Government of Ukraine, IFIs, and Ukrainian businesses, it will provide practical guidance on investing through the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF) and other financial mechanisms. The session will also offer a unique opportunity for investors to connect directly with Ukrainian companies.

"Why Invest in Ukraine Now?"

• Maryna Khlystun, Head of the Department of Investment Attraction, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine

Key investment priorities, strategic orientations under the Ukraine Investment Framework, financing tools and the state-of-play of investment roll-out

• Gabriel Blanc, Team Leader, Reconstruction Policy and UIF, Ukraine Service, DG ENEST, European Commission

International Financing Programs for European Companies Investing in Ukraine

• Marcia Yu, Manager for Manufacturing and Agribusiness, IFC
• Natalka Nazarovetz, Senior Banker, EBRD

Enabling Access to Finance: Practical Insights into Business Financing in Ukraine by local partner banks

• Volodymyr Kuzyo, CFO, Bank Lviv

Legal Aspects of Investing in Ukraine

• Alona Sumina, Acting Head of Legal Affairs and Regulatory Policy, UkraineInvest

Investment Opportunities & Financing Sources

• Maksym Fedoseienko, Head of Strategic Projects at KSE Institute

Q&A & Interactive Discussion with Ukrainian Businesses

Moderator: Olga Slyvynska - International Relations Director, KSE Institute

SMEs are the backbone of the Ukrainian and European economies and essential for sustainable recovery. This panel will explore financial mechanisms to support SMEs, enhance access to capital, and drive economic resilience, with a focus on war veterans, displaced persons, and businesses in front-line regions. Speakers will also explore the role of Export Credit Agencies can play with the support of the European Investment Fund to support SMEs.

Performance by Msgt. Ivan Tkalenko (Electric Bandura) and Pvt Serhii Ivanchuk (Opera Singer), hosted by Capt. Mykolai Sierga

This workshop will spotlight foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities in Ukraine and how the country’s privatisation program offers a strategic entry point for European businesses. Participants will also gain practical guidance on navigating Ukraine’s evolving regulatory landscape and learn how to access EU financing instruments such as the Ukraine Investment Framework and project preparation facilities. Backed by a clear governmental strategy, Ukraine is building a growing portfolio of high-potential assets while advancing EU-aligned reforms and market integration. Experts will highlight key investment opportunities across major sectors and present upcoming privatisation projects.

Developing the ports with a long-term strategic approach will bolster Ukraine's competitiveness and integration with European and worldwide value chains while offering significant investment opportunities for EU companies and other ones in the transport and logistics sector but also well beyond. Being major entry and exit points, maritime ports play an important role as multimodal transport nodes. But how can their potential be harnessed? How can synergies be developed between the different ports in the region to cope with Ukrainian reconstruction and recovery challenges?

The World Bank's 3rd Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA3) estimates that Ukraine’s agricultural sector requires at least $80 billion USD for post-war recovery. To attract investment, international stakeholders are looking for clarity on growth opportunities and financing mechanisms, including private equity. This panel will explore how public and private financing can support the recovery of Ukraine's agricultural sector, with a focus on food processing. Ukraine’s Green Recovery Strategy (2024–2029) aims to transform the sector by shifting from raw commodity exports to value-added products, boosting local employment and export revenues. Key discussions will center on advancing food processing, investment in agri-food innovation, as well as maintaining Ukraine’s open trade in agrifood products with the EU, to ensure long-term growth and resilience.

Ukraine’s path toward EU integration presents both a crucial opportunity and a significant challenge for its economic recovery and long-term development. The private sector as a key driver of economic stability, has a pivotal role to play. Attracting foreign investment, addressing the human capital crisis caused by population displacement, and ensuring that EU reforms effectively translate into tangible business opportunities will be key themes for this discussion leading up to the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025. The panel will foster an open and constructive dialogue among business leaders and policymakers on how EU accession reforms can act as a catalyst for Ukraine’s economic transformation.

Insights from companies and Business Support Organisations on the benefits of EU-Ukraine Business Cooperation and addressing remaining challenges. Ukrainian businesses have faced various challenges—infrastructure and production site damage, relocations, energy shortages, and labour market constraints. Yet, they continue to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and a strong drive for innovation and internationalisation. Many have turned these challenges into opportunities by forging deeper connections with the EU market, embracing new technologies, or exploring new business models to remain agile in a rapidly changing environment. This workshop will bring together companies and Business Support Organisations to share insights on the successes of EU-Ukraine business cooperation and explore ways to strengthen economic ties.

Ensuring the resilience and modernisation of Ukraine’s infrastructure is not only a matter of emergency response but also a strategic priority for the country’s economic recovery and sustainable development. This workshop aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and opportunities involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s energy and infrastructure sectors with a particular emphasis on diversifying energy sources and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy solutions. A key focus of the discussion will be the role of governance and regulatory reforms in enabling effective cooperation between the Ukrainian public administration and the private sector. By addressing barriers to investment and streamlining administrative processes, Ukraine can unlock new opportunities for public-private partnerships that facilitate large-scale infrastructure projects.

This session will highlight those who have chosen to invest in Ukraine during the war, exploring their experiences, the factors behind their decisions, and the success they’ve found on the ground. By showcasing real-world examples, we aim to demonstrate Ukraine's viability as an investment destination and show that waiting to invest could mean missing a significant opportunity. These firsthand perspectives will challenge passive thinking, shifting the mindset of potential European investors to see Ukraine as a strategic European business hub, central to EU economic integration, supply chain resilience, and long-term growth.

Featuring insights from representatives of Credit Insurers and Export Credit Agencies, policymakers, business leaders, this session will provide a practical overview of political risk insurance mechanisms that support long-term investments in Ukraine. Experts will discuss how Credit Insurers can help reduce financial uncertainty, unlock new investment opportunities, and facilitate safe market entry for European companies.

This interactive discussion is designed to give the floor to European businesses and investors in the renewable energy sector to share their experience of working in and with Ukraine: What works well in the area of renewables, what didn’t, and what does the private sector expect from the UA government, and for that matter, from the EU side to speed up deployment of renewables in Ukraine?

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has affected its EU accession process, exacerbating challenges such as customs evasion, VAT, and excise fraud. These have implications for Ukraine's economy and EU trade relations and raise security risks.

Both the EU and Ukraine face shared challenges, including the exploitation of regulatory gaps and pricing discrepancies by cross-border networks, which are increasingly utilising advanced technologies to engage in tax evasion and fraud.

This workshop will explore opportunities for strengthening industrial ties boosting competitiveness, and addressing tax-related challenges between the EU and Ukraine, while supporting Ukraine's continued integration into the EU.

Organised by the European Commission and Women on Boards Ukraine, this workshop is designed for the business community to effectively tap into and leverage the talent pool of Ukrainian women, create an inclusive workplace, and develop strategies for empowering them to drive business growth, creativity, and competitiveness.

The session will showcase initiatives to support Ukrainian women’s significant strengths, while also exploring how to concretely address the barriers they face and the skills gaps that limit their impact.