President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with representatives of Italian business – more than 30 leading companies from various sectors of the economy – on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in Cinobbio.
As reported on the website of the head of the Ukrainian state on Saturday, he thanked Italian entrepreneurs for developing their projects in Ukraine right now. Zelensky noted the companies that provide Ukrainian partners with energy equipment, in particular as humanitarian aid.
The participants of the meeting discussed the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. “The reconstruction of Ukraine should include the introduction of innovative technologies and the latest infrastructure,” Zelensky said.
He noted that Italian business may be interested in cooperation with Ukraine primarily in defense production, mechanical engineering, energy, aerospace, and IT industries.
The Ambrosetti Forum takes place in Cinque Terre, Italy, on September 6-8. Zelenskyy arrived there after the 24th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defense, which took place on Friday at the Ramstein air base in Germany.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Luigi Di Maio, who is in Kyiv on an official visit, and discussed with him topical issues of trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as cooperation in the field energy and infrastructure, according to a government portal on Thursday.
The prime minister said that in 2021 Ukraine will begin the process of privatization of large state-owned enterprises and invited representatives of Italian business to participate in tenders. “The auctions showed great interest on the part of foreign investors, and that the process of large and small privatization can be interesting for the further development of business in Ukraine,” the head of government said.
Shmyhal also noted positive trends in trade between Ukraine and Italy. “Ukraine is ready to offer Italian business the advantages of a deep and comprehensive free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU, in particular, in the format of industrial cooperation, including the implementation of joint production projects,” the prime minister said.
Shmyhal and Di Maio also touched upon the issues of cooperation in the agricultural sector and energy. “The European Green Deal is one of the priorities of our government. We are ready to join efforts aimed at realizing the goals of the Green Deal, and are interested in the development of alternative energy technologies,” the head of government said.
The prime minister invited Italian companies to cooperate in the field of gas production.
Also, the parties discussed interaction in infrastructure projects, in particular, on the development of the railway. “I would like to note the importance of the recently signed Memorandum between Ukrzaliznytsia JSC and the National Railway Company of Italy on the implementation of a high-speed railway communication project. This is an important and promising project. I am convinced that this cooperation has a wide range of opportunities,” Shmyhal said.
Di Maio, for his part, said that Italy strongly supports Ukraine’s European aspirations and the implementation of reforms, including agrarian, anti-corruption, and judicial reforms.
