13/12/2022 – Conclusions of the Bilateral Conference on Resilience and Reconstruction of Ukraine – Press
Paris, December 13, 2022
#430
PRESS RELEASE
Conclusions of the bilateral conference
For the strength and reconstruction of Ukraine
Mayor Bruno, the Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry and Digital Sovereignty today hosted the Conference on economic stability and reconstruction calls from the country at the initiative of the President of the Republic of France and the President of Ukraine. At the end of the initial multilateral sequence held at the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the purpose of this conference was to identify the priority economic needs of Ukraine, as well as to encourage the mobilization of French economic players in support of key sectors of its economy. preparation of its reconstruction.
Bilateral economic cooperation has gained unprecedented momentum since 2016 in sectors such as aeronautics, infrastructure and energy. Thanks to the exceptional participation of more than 700 representatives of French companies, the “Bilateral conference for the strength and reconstruction of Ukraine” allowed to give a new impetus to economic relations with Ukraine.
For Bruno Le Maire “The ability of the Ukrainian economy to withstand the shock of the war today is the main problem for starting the reconstruction of the country tomorrow.” “This bilateral conference, desired by the Ukrainian authorities, is a very important signal of the desire of French economic players to fully mobilize together with Ukraine. But apart from the signal, these are very specific projects that we have closed or launched to meet the needs of the main sectors of the Ukrainian economy.”.
The workshops, which brought together French and Ukrainian companies, as well as Ukrainian and French ministers, were organized around five priority areas: infrastructure, reconstruction of energy systems, agriculture and agri-food sector, bringing together French and Ukrainian companies, as well as Ukrainian and French ministers, in order to take inventory of Ukraine’s priority needs and quickly trigger new initiatives. , support for digital technologies and innovation as well as healthcare.
The conference resulted in the signing of important agreements that directly address Ukraine’s vital infrastructure needs. Their restoration after destruction is an important issue to ensure the continuity of basic services to the population, as well as the functioning of the economy:
Mayor BrunoMinister of Economy, Finance, Industry and Digital Sovereignty and Odile Renaud-Basso, the president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed two agreements on the provision of 100 million euros in support of critical infrastructures of Ukraine. Through the risk-sharing mechanism between the French State and the EBRD, these guarantees will allow two public companies of Ukraine to provide 200 million euros of emergency liquidity: the national energy operator Naftogaz, for the purchase of gas needed for the winter period, and the National Company of Railways of Ukraine (UZ), for priority expenses for implementation.
On the same day, the EBRD allocated a loan of 300 million euros within the framework of the Conference for the benefit of the operators of the Ukrainian “UkrEnergo” electricity networks to repair damaged equipment and ensure the continuity of the main services of the electricity operator. ..
France also signed three agreements that meet the needs of the main sectors of the real economy of Ukraine. The first agreement, signed by Bruno Le Maire and Denys Chmyhal on behalf of the French and Ukrainian governments, concerns the financing of a soft loan of €37.6 million from the Treasury for the supply of 20,000 tons of rail manufactured in France by Saarstahl. company. Thus, it will allow to repair more than 150 km of Ukrainian railways.
A second agreement signed between Matière and UkrAvtodor, Ukraine’s state highway agency, aims to implement a project to equip around 25 bridges with kits, for which France will offer financing.
The third project aims to ensure the delivery of more than 20 million euros of seeds by three French exporting companies (MAS Seeds, Lideas Seeds, RAGT). The State assumes the risk associated with this transaction, thus enabling the implementation of this key project to support Ukraine’s agricultural sector.
The mayor of Bruno and the prime minister of Ukraine have finally signed an agreement to give a strong boost to France-Ukraine cooperation in the digital field. Through this agreement, our two countries agree on a roadmap aimed at achieving quick and concrete results through bilateral projects promoting cooperation between France and Ukraine in key areas for digital sovereignty and development of Ukraine, cyber security, financing of start-ups. Training and support for the ecosystem of Ukrainian startups thanks to events led by the computer training of F Station and schools like Ecole 42.
Click Contacts :
Office of Bruno Le Maire – 01 53 18 41 13 – presse.mineco@cabinets.finances.gouv.fr
