The Ukraine Investment Congress, dedicated to investing in the country’s future, took place on July 30 at the Parkovy Congress and Exhibition Center in Kyiv and brought together over 2,000 representatives from the real estate development, investment, architecture, banking, and government sectors.
According to the organizers, the central theme of the congress was the slogan “Me, You, Society: Investing in the Country’s Future.” Participants discussed the development of the real estate market, the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities, the digitization of government services, investments in domestic tourism, energy independence, and the implementation of accessibility principles in urban planning.
At the same time, the XVII All-Ukrainian Architectural Competition “Interior of the Year 2026” took place at the “Parkovy” Exhibition and Convention Center, during which projects by Ukrainian architects, designers, and development companies were presented.
The congress was attended by Natalia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine; Roman Dzhuranuk, Deputy Head of the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization; Ihor Reva, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine for Digital Transformation; Artur Melezhik, Head of the Department of Industrial Parks and Investment Support; and Nazarii Volyanskyi, Director of the Kyiv Region Regional Development Agency.
Among the representatives of the business community and expert circles, the event was attended by Oleksandr Seleznyov, Founder and CEO of Spatium Group; Andriy Vavrysh, Founder and CEO of SAGA Development; Vitaliy Borul, CEO of CREDO Development; Mark Kestelboim, CEO of Well-Being Contech; Pavlo Somov, Founder and CEO of EcoBud Building Group; Serhiy Odarych, founder and CEO of ODA Development; Yuriy Podolchuk, CEO of the Ukrainian BIM Community; Andriy Dligach, founder of Advanter Group; Dmytro Karpilovskyi, co-founder of the UkrInvestClub; and Anna Iskierdo, co-founder and CEO of AIMM.
A separate panel discussion was dedicated to domestic tourism as an investment asset. Participants examined which tourism and recreational projects Ukrainian investors are currently funding and discussed the prospects for the development of hotel, resort, and income-generating real estate.
During the panel discussion “The State on a Smartphone,” representatives from government agencies and the business community discussed the impact of digitalization on reducing bureaucratic procedures, simplifying investor interactions with the state, and increasing the transparency of permitting processes.
As part of the “Battle of Assets 2026–2027” discussion, experts analyzed various capital investment instruments and the prospects for investing in real estate, business, financial assets, and infrastructure projects.
The program also included discussions on accessibility and inclusivity in urban development, the economic efficiency of facade systems, the use of BIM technologies, the energy self-sufficiency of facilities, and new design standards.
Separately, during the congress, the State Regulatory Service held a workshop for over 70 representatives of ministries and government agencies. Participants addressed issues of government regulation, deregulation, permitting procedures, and the creation of a favorable investment environment.
The event concluded with an awards ceremony for the winners of the “Interior of the Year 2026” competition. According to the organizers, the competition is intended to promote the professional selection of architectural and design projects and raise standards in the Ukrainian market.
The Ukraine Investment Congress was organized by the DMNTR media group. The general partner of the event was “Creator-Bud,” the general sponsor was Elio Home, the strategic partner was Viyar Stone, the premium partner was Itum, and the climate partner was Raum Engineering.
Detailed information about the event and a photo report are available on the official website of the Ukraine Investment Congress—www.ibc-ua.info.
Interfax-Ukraine is the information partner.
The large-scale reconstruction of Ukraine could serve as the foundation for creating a modern basalt fiber and composite materials industry, which would integrate the extraction of domestic raw materials, the production of construction materials, and the manufacture of high-value-added products.
This was written by Volodymyr Khaustov, Scientific Secretary of the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and Honored Economist of Ukraine, in a column for the Interfax-Ukraine news agency published on July 29, 2026.
According to him, future reconstruction efforts will require significant quantities of cement, metal, glass, thermal insulation, and other construction materials. At the same time, this could create a market for more durable, lightweight, and corrosion-resistant composite products.
According to the fifth joint assessment by the Ukrainian government, the World Bank, the European Commission, and the UN, the country’s reconstruction and rehabilitation needs as of the end of 2025 amount to nearly $588 billion over the next ten years. The greatest needs are in transportation, energy, and housing.
Basalt can be used in roads, bridges, and municipal infrastructure
Basalt fiber is produced by melting prepared rock and then forming it into fibers. It is used to manufacture thermal and acoustic insulation, technical fabrics, reinforcing mesh, concrete fiber, composite reinforcement, profiles, and pipes.
These products can be used in the construction of roads and bridges, the rehabilitation of utility networks, industrial flooring, energy facilities, and buildings. Their advantages include resistance to corrosion, high temperatures, and aggressive chemical environments, as well as relatively low weight.
In a study published in 2026 by the European Commission’s Joint Research Center, basalt fibers are identified as among the advanced and innovative construction materials capable of increasing the durability of structures and supporting the construction industry’s transition to more sustainable technologies. At the same time, European researchers point to the need for testing, standardization, and full life-cycle assessment of new materials.
Ukraine has deposits and scientific expertise
The most well-known basalt raw material deposits in Ukraine are located in the Rivne region. Specifically, these are the Berestovtse and Ivano-Dolynske deposits. Rock types promising for fiber production have also been studied in the Zakarpattia and other regions.
Ukrainian scientific institutions were involved in developing technologies for the production of basalt fibers as early as the second half of the 20th century. In the 1980s, dozens of enterprises involved in the production of basalt materials were operating in the country; however, following the collapse of the Soviet industrial system, most of these facilities ceased operations or significantly scaled back their activities.
Khaustov believes that the first step should be an audit of the Ukrainian basalt industry. This audit should cover the condition of deposits, enterprises, equipment, technologies, patents, and scientific developments.
In addition, Ukraine needs modern standards and testing of basalt materials for strength, durability, fire resistance, and resistance to moisture and chemicals. It would be advisable to harmonize national requirements with European standards.
The next step could be the launch of demonstration projects during the restoration of roads, bridges, utility networks, industrial facilities, and damaged public buildings. Support for the industry could include research grants, preferential financing for equipment, investment insurance, and the involvement of European technology partners.
However, the availability of raw materials alone does not guarantee the competitiveness of production. The industry’s development requires a stable energy supply, modern smelting furnaces, high-quality equipment, product certification, trained specialists, and a guaranteed market for the finished products.
The economic efficiency of each product type must be compared with steel, fiberglass, and other traditional materials, taking into account production costs, energy consumption, logistics, maintenance, and the entire service life.
Members of the “Ukrcement” association expect the newly formed Cabinet of Ministers to engage in an open dialogue with the industry regarding problematic issues and to prioritize the interests of domestic producers, Lyudmyla Kripka, executive director and head of the scientific and technical information department at the “Ukrcement” association, told the “Interfax-Ukraine” news agency.
“We expect the new government to engage in an open dialogue and be willing to listen to the industry’s position on problematic issues. We hope that protecting domestic producers will remain a priority of state policy, and that there will be a timely and state-oriented response to the challenges currently facing the cement industry,” she noted.
Among the achievements of the current government, Kripka highlighted the successful harmonization of national standards with European Union legislation as part of the implementation of Ukraine’s Law “On the Supply of Construction Products to the Market.” In addition, she emphasized the support provided to domestic producers, which has been a key factor in maintaining the competitiveness of Ukrainian industry.
At the same time, despite numerous appeals by the Association and its partners to the government, it has not been possible to protect Ukrainian cement producers from the discriminatory impact of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), Kripka added.
“The default CO2 emission values set for Ukraine have effectively become a barrier to the export of Ukrainian cement products to European Union countries,” she explained.
For building materials manufacturers, it is important that issues related to infrastructure development, national reconstruction, and industrial policy remain among the government’s priorities regardless of the organizational model of central executive bodies, Kripka said in response to a question about the possible separation of a standalone Ministry of Infrastructure from the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development.
“We believe that the effectiveness of public administration is determined not so much by the number of ministries as by the quality of their work, the level of coordination, and the speed of decision-making. Furthermore, any structural changes should not lead to delays in the implementation of government programs, duplication of functions, or complications in business interactions with government agencies,” the executive director concluded.
The “Ukrcement” Association was established in January 2004 through the reorganization of the Ukrainian Concern of Cement Industry Enterprises and Organizations “Ukrcement.” The association comprises five groups of companies, including nine cement plants.
CABINET OF MINISTERS, CBAM, CEMENT, RECONSTRUCTION, UKRCEMENT
The first Odesa Investment Congress, dedicated to urban development, investment, and Ukraine’s recovery, took place on July 10 at the SPATIUM Hotel in Odesa and brought together over 300 developers, investors, architects, experts, and government officials.
According to the event organizers, the congress ran throughout the day simultaneously in two thematic halls—“Urban Development” and “Urban Design.”
Participants discussed the investment appeal of the Odesa region, prospects for new development projects, housing policy for reconstruction, the digitalization of the construction industry, the development of medical and rehabilitation facilities, the preservation of Odesa’s historical heritage, and the energy independence of real estate properties.
Among the keynote speakers and panelists were Natalia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine; Ihor Reva, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development of Ukraine for Digital Development, Digital Transformation, and Digitalization; Oleksandr Novitsky, Head of the State Inspectorate of Architecture and Urban
Planning of Ukraine; and Yevhen Metzger, Chairman of the Board of PJSC “Ukrfinzhytlo.”
Also participating in the congress were Serhiy Lysak, Head of the Odesa City Military Administration, First Deputy Mayor of Odesa Oleksandr Filatov, Deputy Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Nataliia Melnychuk, Chief Architect of Odesa Nadiia Novikova, CEO and Owner of SPATIUM Group Oleksandr Seleznyov, as well as representatives of development, architectural, investment, and hotel companies.
Representatives from SPATIUM Group, ZEZMAN Holding, KADORR, “Gefest,” “Two Academicians,” Akvareli, Ribas Hotels, RIEL, UDP, SAGA, Creator-Bud, Avalon, SIGMA+, and CREDO joined the discussions.
According to Alexander Seleznyov, CEO of SPATIUM Group, Odessa’s real estate development market is gradually recovering.
“We are already nearly back to pre-war levels. Old projects have been completed, and we are starting to build new ones,” he said during the congress.
Serhiy Lysak, Head of the Odesa City Military Administration, stated that the city is ready to collaborate with businesses and investors.
“Odesa is open to partnerships, constructive dialogue, and the implementation of joint projects aimed at developing our city,” Lysak emphasized.
Odessa’s Chief Architect, Nadiya Novikova, commenting on the city’s development in light of its status on the UNESCO World Heritage List, noted that changes must occur harmoniously.
“Our goal is for our city to develop—and to do so harmoniously. I don’t think this is anything to be afraid of. We will get to work,” Novikova said.
A separate segment of the program was dedicated to medical development, wellness infrastructure, and rehabilitation and inclusive spaces. The congress also featured a presentation by the Superhumans team in Odesa.
In the Urban Design hall, chief architects of Ukrainian cities and representatives of the professional community discussed modern approaches to urban planning, accessibility, the preservation of architectural heritage, and the development of public spaces.
The congress was held at the SPATIUM Hotel in Arcadia. According to the organizers, this is Odessa’s first five-star medical & wellness aparthotel that operates year-round.
The Odesa Investment Congress concluded with a gala evening, a concert program, and the presentation ceremony for the special Wassily Kandinsky Award.
The event was organized by the DMNTR media group, with SPATIUM Group serving as the general partner.
The Interfax-Ukraine news agency served as the official media partner of the Odesa Investment Congress.
DEVELOPMENT, DMNTR, INVESTMENT, ODESA, Odesa Investment Congress, RECONSTRUCTION, SPATIUM Group
According to Experts.news, Ukraine’s construction industry has shown mixed trends based on preliminary results for the first half of 2026: following growth in 2023–2025, the sector has faced a slowdown in the volume of work, rising construction costs, a labor shortage, and a shift in demand toward housing and infrastructure reconstruction.
The State Statistics Service has not yet released final data for January–June, so a current assessment can be made based on statistics for the first four months, data on housing completions in the first quarter, the “eOselya” and “eVidnovlennia” programs, as well as construction companies’ expectations for the second quarter.
According to the State Statistics Service, the volume of construction work completed in Ukraine in January–April 2026 decreased by 2% compared to the same period in 2025 and amounted to 59.3 billion UAH. At the same time, in April compared to April 2025, construction had already shown a 2.8% increase; specifically, residential construction rose by 5.8%, civil engineering structures by 9.7%, while non-residential construction declined by 7.4%. New construction accounted for 47.8% of the total in April, repairs for 29%, and reconstruction and other work for 23.2%.
By comparison, in 2025, the volume of construction work completed in Ukraine rose by 11.3% to 258.2 billion UAH, but the growth rate was already slowing down at that time, following 17.8% growth in 2024 and 31.8% in 2023. In 2025, residential construction grew by 13.5%, nonresidential construction by 25.4%, and civil engineering by only 3.1%.
“In the first half of 2026, the construction sector effectively transitioned from a phase of rapid post-shock recovery to a phase of selective growth. Housing, renovations, engineering infrastructure, and reconstruction-related projects remain the most resilient. At the same time, commercial non-residential construction remains weaker due to war risks, more expensive financing, and uncertainty for investors,” noted Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club analytical center and candidate of economic sciences.
The residential segment appears more stable than the overall industry trend. In the first quarter of 2026, housing completions in Ukraine decreased by only 0.1% year-over-year, to 2.289 million square meters. During this period, 29,600 apartments were completed, which is 4.3% more than in the first quarter of 2025. The largest volumes of housing completions were recorded in the Lviv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, and Ternopil regions, while in Kyiv, 289,000 square meters of housing—or 4,900 apartments—were completed.
Government programs remain one of the key sources of demand for housing. According to the Ministry of Economy, as of June 22, 2026, 4,104 Ukrainian families had taken advantage of the “eOselya” program since the beginning of the year, receiving preferential mortgage loans totaling nearly 7.7 billion UAH. In just one week in June, 157 loans totaling 313 million UAH were issued, with the majority of new loans going toward first-time home purchases.
The “eVidnovlennia” program plays an even more important role for the construction market. As of June 2026, 206,447 Ukrainian families had received assistance for repairing or purchasing new housing, totaling 103.9 billion UAH. More than 138,000 families received payments to repair damaged homes, nearly 65,000 families received housing certificates for destroyed property, and a separate program for rebuilding on private land is already being funded through tranches.
At the same time, the industry is facing significant price pressure. According to the summary table of price indices for construction and installation work, in April 2026, the construction price index stood at 103.1% compared to March, following 109.4% in March, 101.8% in February, and 101.1% in January. The cumulative figure for the first four months of 2026 was 116.1%, indicating a significant increase in the cost of labor and materials.
Business expectations among construction companies remain cautious. According to a State Statistics Service survey for the second quarter of 2026, the business confidence indicator in construction improved by 1.9 percentage points compared to the first quarter but remained deeply negative at minus 25.7%. The current order volume was estimated at minus 41.5%, and expectations regarding the number of employees stood at minus 9.9%. Companies cited labor shortages, financial constraints, and other factors as the main limiting factors, while their order backlog was estimated to cover an average of six months of work.
At the macro level, the country’s recovery remains the industry’s main long-term driver. According to estimates by the World Bank, the Ukrainian government, the European Commission, and the UN, Ukraine’s needs for recovery and reconstruction over the next ten years are already estimated at nearly $588 billion. Direct losses reached $195 billion, with the housing, transportation, and energy sectors hardest hit. Damages to the housing sector alone are estimated at approximately $61 billion, and about 14% of the housing stock has been damaged or destroyed.
According to Experts Club’s assessment, in the second half of 2026, Ukraine’s construction industry will remain dependent on three key factors: the security situation, access to financing, and the stability of government recovery programs. Residential projects in hinterland regions, the reconstruction of damaged housing, engineering infrastructure, the energy resilience of communities, social housing, and critical infrastructure facilities will have the greatest potential.
“The Ukrainian construction sector cannot be assessed solely based on the current index of completed work. It is no longer just an economic sector, but one of the key tools for survival, the return of people, the recovery of communities, and the country’s future investment attractiveness. But the transition from repairs to large-scale modernization requires long-term financing, insurance against war risks, transparent project pipelines, and skilled personnel,” emphasized Maksym Urakin.
Thus, the first half of 2026 for Ukraine’s construction industry can be preliminarily assessed as a period of stabilization following the rapid growth of previous years. The market is not showing a uniform upturn, but it has significant structural demand related to housing, reconstruction, infrastructure, and future post-war reconstruction. For businesses, this means a shift toward more selective competition—companies with access to financing, qualified personnel, a transparent cost estimation framework, and the ability to work with government and international reconstruction programs will come out on top.
CONSTRUCTION, EXPERTS CLUB, HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, RECONSTRUCTION, URAKIN
Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction will create a massive market for the construction sector, industry, and related sectors; however, Ukrainian companies need to start preparing now to compete with international contractors, according to Andriy Ozeychuk, director of Rauta and chairman of the board of directors of the Ukrainian Steel Construction Center Association.
In his column for The Page, he noted that once the war ends, demand for construction will be significant from the general public, the government, and the business sector alike. According to estimates by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are about 8 million Ukrainians abroad who fled during the full-scale invasion, and the UN forecasts the return of 3–3.5 million people once lasting peace and security guarantees are in place.
According to the expert, a significant portion of those who return, as well as internally displaced persons, will need new housing or the restoration of damaged homes. At the same time, reconstruction will not be limited to the housing stock. According to estimates by the Kyiv School of Economics, residential buildings account for only about one-third of the direct losses from the war, while significant losses were also sustained by transportation and energy infrastructure, corporate assets, industry, and the agri-industrial complex.
Ozeychuk notes that, according to World Bank estimates, Ukraine’s reconstruction will require more than EUR500 billion over the next decade. This is nearly three times Ukraine’s GDP in 2025 and creates significant opportunities not only for the construction sector but also for the entire economy.
In his estimation, every hryvnia invested in construction has a multiplier effect and stimulates 1.5 to 3 times greater growth in related sectors. Examples include the postwar reconstruction of Germany and South Korea, where the construction sector became one of the catalysts for economic growth.
The expert identifies the main sources of funding for large-scale projects as direct financial assistance from international partners—including the G7, the EU, and the U.S.—the attraction of large private investments backed by state guarantees, as well as reparations and confiscated frozen assets of the Russian Federation. Ukraine’s European integration should serve as an additional incentive, as it will eventually open access to specialized EU development funds.
At the same time, Ukrainian construction companies may already face stiff competition from European players. According to Ozeychuk, the most realistic scenario would be a consortium model in which a European general contractor would work alongside Ukrainian subcontractors and use local materials certified to European EN standards.
Under this scenario, foreign companies could be involved in high-tech work, while Ukrainian businesses would handle local logistics, specialized work, and the construction of utility networks, roads, and capital construction projects.
The expert identifies financing conditions as the main barrier for Ukrainian companies. While in Ukraine construction is often carried out using substantial advance payments, the EU commonly uses a post-audit payment model—based on the completion of specific project phases. This requires significant working capital, whereas Ukrainian companies have limited access to low-cost long-term loans.
To level the playing field, Ozeychuk believes the government should launch programs for affordable long-term loans backed by state guarantees, provide preferential financing for the modernization of Ukrainian building materials plants, simplify the adoption of EN standards, and advocate for Ukrainian businesses’ participation in international grant programs.
A separate challenge will be the construction industry’s transition to European design standards. By 2028, the Ukrainian system is expected to fully integrate into the European space and adopt Eurocodes. This will remove some barriers for foreign engineers but will also require Ukrainian specialists to rapidly upgrade their qualifications.
Among the technological trends in reconstruction, the expert cites BIM modeling, digital twins of buildings, energy-efficient solutions, and the concept of net-zero energy buildings. In his assessment, the market will shift toward rapid modular construction, eco-friendly materials, and innovative solutions.
Another key constraint will be a labor shortage. According to Ozeychuk, demobilized military personnel and men returning from abroad will only partially offset the labor shortage. High demand could lead to rising wages in construction, particularly for blue-collar jobs, and could also encourage the retraining of specialists from other sectors, as well as the more active involvement of women, veterans, and older workers.
In addition, Ukrainian companies are already beginning to collaborate with agencies that specialize in the official recruitment of construction workers from South Asian countries, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Ozeychuk believes that the two main principles of the future reconstruction are speed of implementation and the “Build Back Better” approach—that is, rebuilding to a higher standard than before the destruction. It is precisely these criteria that will determine the demand for modern materials, technologies, and production capacity in Ukraine.
Rauta is a Ukrainian company operating in the field of prefabricated buildings, facade and roofing systems, sandwich panels, and steel construction. The “Ukrainian Center for Steel Construction” Association brings together companies working in the segments of metal structures, building materials, design, and industrial construction.
CONSTRUCTION, Eurocode, INVESTMENT, OZEYCHUK, RAUTA, RECONSTRUCTION
