According to the Serbian business publication Parametar, construction of the first phase of a new plant to manufacture electric motors for drones is nearing completion in the village of Kotraža near Lučani. The equipment has already been delivered, some employees have been hired and are undergoing training, and production is expected to begin in early October.
In the first phase, the plant is expected to employ about 50 people; after the completion of all three phases, the workforce will grow to 60–70 employees. Earlier reports mentioned the possibility of expanding the workforce to 150 employees. The plant’s projected production capacity is up to 40,000 motors per month.
Businessman Milenko Kostić stated that the idea to establish the production facility came from Želko Mitrović. For the small town of Dragacheva, the project is significant not only from a technological standpoint: the plant is effectively being created as a new industrial employment hub in a rural area.
The international forum “Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Opportunities, Investment” will take place on October 22–23, 2026, at the ROMEXPO Exhibition Center in Bucharest, Romania.
The forum is organized by the New Strategy Center and the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event is expected to bring together representatives of government institutions from Ukraine, Romania, and other countries, as well as international financial organizations, businesses, investors, local authorities, and experts.
According to the preliminary program, the forum will last two days. The main topics of discussion will include infrastructure and transport connectivity, security and defense, financing mechanisms and business opportunities, energy, agriculture and sustainable development, the recovery of Ukrainian regions and cross-border cooperation, as well as human capital.
The forum is scheduled to open on the morning of October 22. George Scutaru, CEO of the New Strategy Center, and Mihai Daraban, President of the Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, are scheduled to deliver opening remarks.
One of the first plenary discussions will be a panel titled “Business Bridges for Economic Recovery: The Strategic Role of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.” Among the confirmed participants are Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the heads of the chambers of commerce and industry of Romania, Poland, Italy, and Moldova; and Adrian Zuckerman, former U.S. Ambassador to Romania.
A separate segment of the program will be dedicated to the Romania-Ukraine-Moldova strategic transport and investment corridor. Representatives of the Ukrainian government, the Verkhovna Rada, UkraineInvest, and Romanian authorities are scheduled to participate in the discussion. At the same time, international mechanisms for financing reconstruction will be discussed with representatives from KfW, Poland’s BGK, and other financial institutions.
A significant portion of the forum will have a practical investment focus. Separate sessions are scheduled to present investment opportunities in the Kyiv, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Odesa, and Kherson regions. The broader concept of the forum also includes the participation of the Mykolaiv region.
On the first day, discussions are also planned on the role of business associations in mobilizing capital for reconstruction, food security and Ukraine’s agricultural potential, the development of the Danube logistics hub, attracting private capital to reconstruction efforts, Black Sea security, unmanned systems, the restoration of housing and cities, Ukraine’s energy transition, and the return of human capital.
Among the announced participants in the finance panel are representatives from the European Investment Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Romanian Commercial Bank (BCR), Poland’s BGK, and Romania’s Investment and Development Bank.
The second day, October 23, will begin with a plenary discussion on ending Russian aggression against Ukraine, international pressure, negotiations, and security guarantees. The program also includes panels on Ukraine’s experience with unmanned systems, the reintegration of veterans, the restoration of the power grid, the role of
the Danube as a strategic transport corridor, and the development of connections between Poland, Ukraine, and Romania.
Separate discussions will address sanctions and post-war reparations, energy cooperation in the Black Sea region, the participation of Romanian companies in Ukraine’s reconstruction, joint production of dual-use goods, and the use of EU programs to develop cross-border cooperation.
According to the program, simultaneous interpretation into Ukrainian, English, and Romanian will be provided at the forum.
The organizers emphasize that the program published as of September is preliminary; therefore, the list of participants, panel titles, and their schedules are subject to change.
Advance registration is required to participate in the forum. The contact person on the Ukrainian side is Kateryna Dadiverina, tel. +40 721 616 747, e-mail: ecaterina.dadiverina@newstrategycenter.ro.
For questions regarding partnerships, sponsorship packages, and exhibition booths, please contact the New Strategy Center: Ana-Maria Shaer, tel. +40 753 103 310, email: ana.schaer@newstrategycenter.ro.
Detailed information and the latest forum program are available on the official website of Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Opportunities, Investment.
The “Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Opportunities, Investment” forum’s media partners are, as usual, Interfax-Ukraine and Open4Business.
Vasyl Khmelnytskyy, founder of the “Bila Tserkva” Industrial Park, announced the suspension of plans to build three plants within the industrial park due to high risks.
“I know that fortune often favors the bold. But today I went to Bila Tserkva and made a decision: for now, not to begin new construction of three factories. We’ll finish what we’ve already started, but put the large-scale plans on hold. Right now, the risks are too great—both for the business and for the people. I’m ready to take responsibility for the business. Although, to be honest, I’m already at my limit. But I’m not ready to expose people to a risk I can’t control,” he said on social media.
According to him, such decisions are difficult to make, but an entrepreneur’s responsibility also includes knowing when to stop.
“I don’t like the phrase ‘until better times.’ So I’ll be more specific: we’ll return to these plans when the risks are lower. Right now, our task is to finish what we’ve started, keep the team together, and maintain the ability to move forward,” the entrepreneur emphasized.
The projects of entrepreneur Vasyl Khmelnytskyi’s holding company, UFuture—FOP “Bila Tserkva” and “Bila Tserkva 2”—were included in the Register of Industrial Parks in 2018. The parks are home to more than two dozen tenants (including foreign companies).
The total area of the parks is 70.3 hectares, of which 45 hectares have already been developed. More than 85,000 square meters of industrial and warehouse real estate have been commissioned.
On October 22–23, Kyiv will host the 24th Ukrainian CFO Forum—the premier professional event for CFOs, CEOs, business owners, investors, and heads of key business functions.
Interfax readers can take advantage of a special offer: 15% off registration using the promo code BraveInterfax
This year’s program focuses on the decisions Ukrainian companies must make today as they develop their financial models and strategies for 2027 amid the war and high uncertainty. The Forum’s two-day program will feature 16 hours of professional content: 10 sessions in the form of panel discussions, interviews, and practical case studies featuring over 50 speakers from market-leading companies.
Ukrainian businesses are entering the 2027 planning cycle without a single baseline scenario. Destruction and loss of assets, attacks on energy and logistics infrastructure, high cost of capital, labor shortages, regulatory changes, and the acceleration of digital transformation are shortening the planning horizon and constantly changing the conditions under which businesses must make decisions.
For CFOs, this means simultaneously ensuring liquidity and business continuity, revising financial models, managing capital and risks, and not postponing investment and transformation decisions on which the company’s future depends.
The program of the Ukrainian CFO Forum 2026 is dedicated to these very issues—from the 2027 financial model and capital management to decisions following asset losses, adaptive planning, digital transformation, and the interaction between the CFO, CEO, and owner.
The 24th Ukrainian CFO Forum will bring together over 700 participants—CFOs of leading companies in the Ukrainian market, CEOs, business owners, international business executives, and representatives of banks, investment funds, technology companies, and government institutions.
▪️ The 2027 Financial Model: What to Include in the Budget When There Is No Base Case Scenario. Scenarios, triggers for revising the financial model, the cost of money, access to capital, and foreign exchange regulations. The forum will open with a strategic dialogue between Serhiy Nikolaychuk, First Deputy Governor of the NBU, and Andriy Dligach, founder and chairman of Advanter Group.
▪️ Business After Asset Loss: Rebuild or Restructure the Model. Replacement CAPEX, relocation, asset decentralization, recovery financing, insurance, and compensation for war risks. Practical experience will be shared by Rozetka-EVO, Nova Poshta, VARUS, Biosphere Corporation, Starlight Media, and Philip Morris Ukraine.
▪️ Strategy in the Face of Uncertainty: Decisions a CEO Must Still Make for Years to Come. Investments, scaling, production, team, and logistics amid a constantly shifting planning horizon. Panelists: Odgers Ukraine, Imperial Brands Ukraine, YASNO, and BGV Group Management.
▪️ Adaptive Planning: How to Manage a Business When the Annual Budget Is No Longer a Reliable Guide. Scenario planning, rolling forecasts, CAPEX, OPEX, liquidity, and working capital. Practical approaches will be presented by KSE, Danone, British American Tobacco Ukraine, FOKSTROT, and Metinvest Group.
▪️ Digital transformation with measurable business results. ERP, AI in finance, SAF-T UA, and data quality through the lens of deadlines, budget, and financial impact. The program features case studies from Farmak / Business Evolution, MTI, “Avtomagistral-Pivden” / SMART business, British American Tobacco Ukraine / Innoware, ALVIVA GROUP / ABM Cloud, D.TRADING / IT-Enterprise, and EBS.
Specific practical sessions at the Forum will focus on capital and liquidity management, identifying “hidden EBITDA” without new CAPEX, human capital, financial monitoring, and the CFO’s interaction with the CEO and owner.
“For CFOs, 2027 begins right now. Businesses cannot wait for certainty to emerge: decisions must be made today on whether to restore an asset or restructure the business model, invest in CAPEX or preserve liquidity, where to raise capital, and what scenarios to factor into the budget. That is why this year we are structuring the forum’s program around concrete solutions and case studies from companies that are already navigating these dilemmas,” — Ihor Solovykh, CEO of FAService and organizer of the Ukrainian CFO Forum.
The Ukrainian CFO Forum 2026 program features CFOs and CEOs of market-leading companies, representatives of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), and leading experts from major Ukrainian and international companies. Participants will receive up to 16 ACCA CPD units for attending the Forum.
Event partners: Pivdenny Bank, Odgers Ukraine, PUMB, Innoware, Done, SMART business, EBS, Business Evolution, Payoneer, IT-Enterprise, Advance Finance Alliance, Vchasno, ABM Cloud, ACCA, Silpo Voyage Pro, Bayadera Group, CFO Club, CEO Club, Board.
Main media partner: Starlight Media.
Ukrainian CFO Forum 2026 | October 22–23 | Kyiv + online
A special offer is available for Interfax readers through October 9: 15% off registration with the promo code BraveInterfax
Details and registration: cfo.ua/cfoforum
The Ukrainian CFO Forum is organized by FAService.
https://cfo.ua/cfoforum/?utm_source=Interfax&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=cfoforum2026
Open4Business is the forum’s information partner.
In 2026, the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine decided to provide state funding for infrastructure development to nine industrial parks totaling 557 million UAH, and will soon review applications from the “Uzhhorod” and “Khust” industrial parks for 120 million hryvnias, according to Dmytro Kysilevsky, deputy chairman of the parliamentary committee on economic development.
“In 2026, decisions have already been made regarding nine industrial parks totaling 557 million hryvnias. Among them are the Transcarpathian industrial parks ‘Tyachiv’ and ‘Friendly Wind Technology.’ Applications from the “Uzhhorod” and “Khust” industrial parks, totaling 120 million hryvnias, will also be reviewed in the near future,” he wrote on Facebook following a meeting held on Wednesday with the initiators and management companies of Transcarpathia’s industrial parks.
Kysilevsky noted that the state provides funding for the development of industrial infrastructure in industrial parks on a 50:50 co-financing basis; recipients are also required to build at least 5,000 square meters of industrial space and attract at least two tenants.
He noted that prior to the full-scale invasion, there was only one industrial park in the Zakarpattia region, but now there are already 12, and three more are preparing to apply for registration by the end of 2026.
“The security factor has become the main draw for industrial investment in the region. In terms of the number of industrial parks, the region is already among the top three, behind Kyiv and Lviv regions, and has well-founded ambitions to become a leader. There are 13 factories that have been built or are under construction in Transcarpathian industrial parks. They already provide jobs for about 2,000 workers,” the MP emphasized.
Kysilevsky also announced the start of construction on new production facilities in the industrial parks of Uzhhorod, Khust, and Svalyava.
As previously reported, as of September of this year, 125 industrial parks had been registered in Ukraine across nearly all regions. By the end of 2025, 37 industrial enterprises had been built or were under construction in these industrial parks. The total amount of investment attracted to the industrial parks exceeds 45 billion hryvnias.
government support, INDUSTRIAL PARK, INDUSTRY, INVESTMENT, UKRAINE
The Arab Council of Ukraine and the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council have agreed to develop the region’s cooperation with the countries of the Arab world, particularly in the economic, investment and humanitarian spheres.
According to Mohammad Farajallah, Secretary-General of the Arab Council in Ukraine, Violeta Labazuk, Chair of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Council, met with Khusam Raad, Chair of the Committee on Foreign and Diplomatic Relations of the Arab Council in Ukraine, advisor to the Honorary Consul General of Ukraine in Syria, and representative of the Muslim community in the Khmelnytskyi region.
The parties discussed opportunities to expand the international ties of the Khmelnytskyi region and establish contacts with representatives of businesses and public organizations from Arab states.
Particular attention was paid to the prospects of attracting investment, implementing joint projects, developing trade and economic cooperation, and humanitarian initiatives.
During the meeting, the parties also discussed opportunities to present the economic and investment potential of the Khmelnytskyi region to potential partners from Arab countries.
The Arab Council of Ukraine stated its readiness to facilitate the establishment of direct contacts between representatives of the region and business circles of Arab states, as well as to support initiatives aimed at developing interregional and international cooperation.
The parties agreed to continue their interaction and work out specific areas of possible cooperation.
The Arab Council of Ukraine is a public organization whose activities are aimed at developing relations between Ukraine and Arab countries and strengthening business, public, cultural and humanitarian ties.
ARAB COUNCIL OF UKRAINE, Arab countries, COOPERATION, INVESTMENT, Khmelnytskyi region, LABAZIUK, UKRAINE, АБУ АЛРУБ
