Australian businessman, head of investment company Tattarang and Fortescue Metals Andrew Forrest will invest $ 500 million in the Development Fund for Ukraine UDF, created together with the investment company BlackRock, said the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine from the Conference on Reconstruction in London.
According to a release on its website, Forrest will be a strategic advisor on the creation of UDF and its investment groups – green strategic metals, green iron, green hydrogen and green electricity – and will serve on an advisory panel for the Ukrainian government.
Forrest, in turn, speaking at the conference, urged other global investors to see Ukraine as an excellent long-term investment opportunity.
It is specified that the idea of UDF was conceived and developed by Forrest and inspired by the World War II Marshall Plan, and back in March 2022 he approached Larry Fink, head of BlackRock, to get advisory support for the creation of the investment vehicle.
His plans to be an anchor investor and invest $500 million in a green energy fund first became publicly known in November 2022.
In May 2023, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine announced the appointment of BlackRock FMA as a consultant on the design of the Ukraine Development Fund.
“We should not seek to rebuild what Ukraine was with its outdated Soviet-era infrastructure…We will build a future that is digital, green, fair and free of corruption,” Forrest said at the conference.
The press release notes that Forrests Minderoo Foundation has already contributed millions of dollars to help the Ukrainian people, including funding the first humanitarian grain shipment from Ukraine in August and providing critical storage facilities for farmers whose crops would otherwise have died. In addition, 180 generators were provided to provide power.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and 19 financial development institutions (DFIs) signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Conference on Reconstruction of Ukraine in London to promote joint investments in the private sector of the Ukrainian economy.
“The signing of this memorandum … was the next step in the implementation of the agreement between the EBRD and the G7 DFIs to create a common platform for investment in Ukraine, which was announced at the G7 meeting in Tokyo last month,” the bank said in a press release.
It is noted that the main goal of creating the joint platform between the EBRD and DFI is to promote co-financing by strengthening cooperation and dialogue between partners in the context of providing assistance for reconstruction of Ukraine.
It is noted that the priority of investment initiatives will be given to the private sector of Ukraine’s economy.
“Ukraine’s financial needs during the recovery phase will be very significant, and therefore will require the combined efforts of financial institutions. To maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of their activities, Ukraine’s partners must ensure careful coordination among themselves. The private sector will play an extremely important role in the recovery of the Ukrainian economy,” stressed the EBRD.
The Bank points out that it is ready to work together with the DFI to improve the efficiency and quality of assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries affected by Russia’s military aggression.
It is specified that the memorandum was signed by British International Investment, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, DEG (Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft), Development Finance Institute Canada (DFIC), Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Proparco, USA International Development Finance Corporation, Belgium Investment Company for developing countries.
Also in this list are Compañía Española de financiación del desarrollo (Cofides), Finnfund, Investment Fund for Developing Countries, Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden, Norfund, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank, Sociedade para o Financiamento do desenvolvimento, instituicao financeira de credito, Swiss Investment Fund for Developing Markets and Swedfund international.
Aid to Ukraine is very different from other humanitarian projects and should largely be aimed at helping to develop private businesses and stimulating investment, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said at Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on Wednesday.
“When providing the assistance to Ukraine, we must make sure that local businesses will benefit. Therefore, we announced a donation of EUR 25 million to provide more insurances and guarantee mechanisms so that companies are willing to invest,” she said.
Huitfeldt said this is part of the Norwegian program worth EUR 7 billion for Ukraine.
She also noted the importance of a sound legal system, commitment to fighting corruption and burden-sharing when it comes to investment risk, and cited the decentralization reform as positive.
Earlier at the conference, Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis announced the signing on that day of an agreement to launch an experimental military insurance scheme. He said the EU is also working on a pilot project for export credit guarantee schemes to Ukraine.
Ukraine Recovery Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Werner Hoyer signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Ukraine recovery projects envisaging allocation of EUR 840 million in 2023.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, the memorandum, signed during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023 (London, June 21-22), provides for the allocation of EUR840 million for the implementation in 2023 of priority projects to restore the infrastructure of Ukraine.
Kubrakov reminded that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the European Investment Bank has allocated EUR 1.7 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine. This money was used for the needs of the state budget and supported the economy of Ukraine.
“Today we are expanding our cooperation on the reconstruction of Ukraine. We will work together on a number of projects aimed at restoring municipal and transport infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, etc. We appreciate the support the Bank has already provided to Ukrainians, and we thank EIB President Werner Hoyer for his cooperation and the Bank’s critical role for Ukraine’s sustainability during the war,” Kubrakov said.
It is noted that EUR840 million, envisaged by the Memorandum, will be used for preparation, evaluation, financing and implementation of projects on reconstruction of municipal infrastructure (schools, hospitals, etc.); public buildings with consideration of energy efficiency; water supply and sewage infrastructure; transport networks and public transport.
The EIB will also finance the development of digital transformation and the strengthening of cybersecurity.
In addition, the Memorandum provides for the cooperation of Ukraine and the EIB on the use of a special trust fund from the EIB – EU for Ukraine Fund and lending projects in Ukraine with the support of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD +) guarantees.
The Ministry of Reconstruction and the EIB will work on the implementation and application of a package of technical and consulting assistance for Ukraine worth about EUR100 million.
The European Investment Bank is one of the largest creditors of Ukraine. To date, the EIB’s portfolio of projects with the Ukrainian public and municipal sectors and businesses reaches more than EUR 7 billion.
The Dobrobut medical network has extended the program of gratuitous surgeries and hospitalizations for the wounded and children.
Dobrobut told Interfax-Ukraine that the program has been extended until August 31, while previously it was planned that the program, which began in April 2022, would end on June 20, 2023.
“The program operates for Ukrainians stranded by war. Soldiers and civilians with wounds and injuries as a result of military action, as well as children – in the direction of “emergency surgery” and with congenital malformations can receive surgical care free of charge. For children there is also a program of free care in the intensive care unit (resuscitation)”, – specified in the nurses.
At the same time the clinic noted that “the number of places in the program of free surgical and hospital care is limited and to get help it is necessary to leave an application by calling the contact center “Dobrobut”.
The program operates at the Dobrobut Medical and Diagnostic Center on Semya Idzikovskikh St. with the support of the international Direct Relief Foundation.
“Dobrobut” is one of the largest private medical networks in Ukraine. It includes 17 medical centers in Kiev and Kiev region, emergency service, dentistry and pharmacies. Medical centers of network provide services for children and adults in more than 75 medical directions. Annually experts “Dobrobutu” carry out more than 7 thousand operations. 2.8 thousand employees work in the network.
Dobrobut cooperates with a number of international charitable organizations such as Direct Relief International, Children of War Foundation, International Medical Corps and University of Miami Global Institute, as well as with the Dobrobut Charitable Foundation, founded by the clinic.
“Dobrobut was the first private network in Ukraine to receive funding from the U.S. federal government – with the support of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the company will build a state-of-the-art physical rehabilitation center.
On June 21, 2023 Rating Committee of Expert-Rating RA has decided to withdraw the financial stability (reliability) rating of the insurer Alfa Insurance PJSC (Kyiv), according to the website of RA.
As it was reported, the rating committee of RA “Expert-Rating” has decided on December 23, 2022 to suspend the rating of the company, noting that it may be restored if the license of the company has been renewed.
Earlier, on December, 5 of 2022, the National Bank of Ukraine has applied to PrJSC IC “Alfa Insurance” a measure of influence in the form of temporary suspension of the license to provide financial services.
The NBU also noted that these measures were applied in connection with the company’s non-compliance with the requirements of the Regulation on licensing and registration of financial service providers and the conditions of their activities to provide financial services …, namely the requirements for business reputation of financial service providers. The company must eliminate the violations by December 5, 2023.
Later, the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine reported on its website that due to the temporary suspension of IC “Alfa Insurance” license for compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of vehicles (MTPL), it lost the right to enter into new contracts.
As it was reported, IC “Alfa Insurance” was founded in 2000. It offers a universal portfolio of services, including comprehensive programs for protection of business interests and a wide range of insurance products for individuals
