Greece is preparing a conference on the restoration of Ukraine

On February 15, 2024, an international conference on the restoration of Ukraine with the involvement of Greek business is planned in Athens (Greece).

About it reported the press service of the government of Ukraine.

On December 4, the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleg Nemchinov met with the Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic for Ukraine, Ambassador Spyridon Lambridis. During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation between the countries and preparations for the planned events.

“Ukraine is interested in further strengthening our political dialogue,” the Ukrainian government said in a statement.

“The Hellenic Republic is Ukraine’s most important partner in Europe. Thus, January 15, 2024 will mark 32 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Greece. Today, the resumption of the activities of the intergovernmental joint Ukrainian-Greek working group on economic, industrial, technical and scientific cooperation is extremely important, the Ukrainian part of which I head. It is important that we agreed on the date for the next meeting and began the preparation process. Now we are awaiting the proposal of the Greek side for the draft agenda. I am convinced that this meeting will be an impetus for intensifying economic cooperation between our countries,” he began the meeting Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleg Nemchinov.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the special role of the city of Odessa in the history of the Hellenic Republic and the readiness of the Greek side to join in the restoration of architectural monuments and the historical center of the city that were damaged during Russian aggression.”.

Also, the special commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic for Ukraine, Spyridon Lambridis, emphasized that Greece intends to open a special office in Odessa for the restoration of the Odessa region. The ambassador noted that Greece strongly supports Ukraine’s aspirations for membership in the European Union and NATO. In addition, he announced the holding of an international conference on the restoration of Ukraine on February 15, 2024 in Athens with the involvement of Greek business.

The key issues that are planned to be addressed during the conference are:

• preparation of a reconstruction plan for Ukraine: aspects of planning and financing of reconstruction projects with the participation of European agencies and the Ukrainian government;
• institutional mechanism for business: presentation of the mechanism for the business community that will be involved in reconstruction projects, with the participation of Ukrainian government experts and business representatives with regional reconstruction experience;
• opportunities for cooperation in certain areas: presentation of sectors such as construction, transport, logistics, energy, technology, IT, consulting, healthcare with the participation of representatives of Greek and Ukrainian trade and industrial organizations.

Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleg Nemchinov, in turn, emphasized the importance for Ukraine of the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, which has enormous potential, in particular in the field of construction, alternative energy, and expansion of logistics ties. Particular attention was paid to the further development of cooperation in the field of transport, especially taking into account the great potential of the maritime transport capacities of Greek shipping companies.

Note that in 2022, the volume of trade in goods and services between Ukraine and Greece amounted to $954.8 million. USA (24.3% increase). In 9 months 2023 trade turnover between Ukraine and Greece amounted to 1025.7 million dollars. USA (59.4% increase).

Greece previously announced financing the restoration of a maternity hospital in Mariupol, in a city home to a large Greek diaspora. For this purpose, a special fund was created, and also opened collection account, where, according to fund managers, large sums were invested. However, recently the topic of Mariupol has become irrelevant and, apparently, the Greek authorities have set their sights on Odessa.

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