Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have resumed the Joint Business Cooperation Council after a 10-year hiatus, with Ukraine presenting a portfolio of investment projects worth more than $1 billion, according to the press service of the international food and agrotechnology company MHP.
The agricultural holding company noted that the decision to resume the activities of the Joint Council was supported by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a meeting in March 2025 in Riyadh. The restoration of this mechanism is an important step towards forming a new architecture of strategic partnership between the countries.
Agroholding MHP, which headed the Ukrainian delegation at the meeting, noted that among the investment projects presented are initiatives in the fields of agro-industry, medicine, engineering, critical materials, logistics, retail, and the creation of industrial parks — areas that correspond to the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program. Kingdom.
MHP Director of International Cooperation and Secretary General of the Business Council Mikhail Bno-Ayriyan emphasized that the return of the Ukrainian delegation to Riyadh after more than a decade symbolizes a new stage in the development of economic relations between the countries.
“Ukraine is going through a difficult period in its history, but we have not stopped – we have adapted. The economy continues to function, and the financial system remains stable. We are convinced that the potential for cooperation between our countries significantly exceeds current indicators. That is why the Joint Business Council should become a mechanism that will open up access to this potential,” said Yuriy Melnyk, Chairman of the Ukrainian part of the Council and Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Sustainable Development at MHP.
The Ukrainian delegation took part in negotiations with the leadership of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), discussed the resumption of Ukrainian chicken exports to the KSA market after the end of epizootic restrictions, the accreditation of Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturers, and the coordination of online audit procedures to confirm the compliance of production facilities.
The Ukrainian component of the business council brings together committees on agribusiness, medicine, engineering, critical materials, IT, logistics, energy, and industrial parks. The delegation included executives from companies that generate more than 4% of Ukraine’s GDP, in particular, MHP, BGV, Epicenter, Dobrobut, Interchem, Darnitsa, Kernel, SoftServe, and Orion.Group.
