A team from Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, led by Minister Oleksii Sobolev, met with Matteo Rivellini, Head of Ukraine Investment Team at the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Kristina Mikulova, EIB’s Head of Regional Hub for Eastern Europe.
The meeting focused on the ministry’s priorities, financing the private sector through the Ukraine Investment Framework, support for Naftogaz and the Ukraine Fund, and joint projects in the fields of environment, water resources and irrigation.
“Our partnership with the European Investment Bank is strategically vital. We highly value the EIB’s comprehensive support: both in public sector projects and in future initiatives, including the flagship direct investment fund. The EIB’s assistance in Ukraine’s recovery is also crucial, paving the way for expanding financial instruments, attracting new partnerships and strengthening the ministry’s institutional capacity,” said Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.
During the meeting, the minister introduced the updated team and the ministry’s strategic priorities. The parties separately discussed a EUR 300-million loan for Naftogaz and the possibility of increasing the company’s debt ceiling.
The discussion also covered mechanisms for financing public investments in Ukraine under the Ukraine Investment Framework (UIF). The application period for UIF funding has concluded, and applications are now being processed.
Oleksii Sobolev thanked the EIB for its support in establishing the European Flagship Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and stressed the importance of continued cooperation.
The meeting also addressed:
– Programmes for preparing public investment projects with international partners (PPU and PPF);
– Cooperation on public investment management reforms for projects in environment, water resources and irrigation, with a specific mention of Mykolaiv region (Snihurivka) where PPF technical support could aid irrigation project development;
– Support for projects in the mineral resources and geological exploration sectors.
The parties also discussed the minister’s participation in the ReBuild Ukraine forum in Warsaw in November, the German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin in December, and several other matters. (Government portal)