In Berlin on Monday, October 24, the 5th German-Ukrainian business forum began its work, organized by the Federal Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), the Eastern Committee of the German Economy (Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft) and the German-Ukrainian Industrial – Chamber of Commerce (AHK Ukraine) together with Ukrainian partners.
The forum is taking place on the eve of an Expert Conference of the G7 countries, convened at the initiative of Germany, which will also discuss the participation of the G7 and the world community in the restoration of Ukraine.
Opening the forum, the German Chancellor promised that Germany would support Ukraine as long as necessary. The head of the Ukrainian government estimated the cost of restoring the country at $750 billion.
“Germany will support Ukraine as long as it is necessary,” German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said opening the forum. According to the head of the German government, “the relations between Ukraine and the FRG have never been so close, and the European future of Ukraine has never been clearer.” “We want Ukraine to become a member of the European Union and this is a clear signal to investors that their investments today are investments in a future EU country,” Scholz added.
“We are gradually moving towards Europe,” the head of the Ukrainian government, Denys Shmyhal, said in turn, turning to German companies with a request for investment. “For European companies, the transformation process opens up incredible opportunities,” the prime minister stressed. Among other things, he noted the experience of the Ukrainian military industry, the potential in the energy sector and the IT sector, and agriculture. Shmyhal estimated the cost of restoring Ukraine at $750 billion (€761 billion).
Olaf Scholz and Denis Shmyhal next to the organizers of the German-Ukrainian Business Forum.
Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa/picture alliance
It is planned that within the framework of the forum, representatives of German and Ukrainian business will discuss the participation of the business community in the restoration of Ukraine, as well as issues of further expansion of bilateral economic relations between Germany and Ukraine. The forum is taking place on the eve of an expert conference of the G7 countries, convened at the initiative of Germany, which will also discuss the participation of the G7 and the world community in the restoration of Ukraine.
