Swiss company LLC Global Clearance Solutions Ukraine will join the demining of territories in Kyiv region, the press service of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration (KOVA) reports.
As reported, the relevant Memorandum was signed by the head of KOVA Ruslan Kravchenko and the CEO of the Swiss company “LLC Global Clearance Solutions Ukraine” Dmitry Salimonov. This is a company by engineering and production facilities in Germany and representative offices around the world.
“After the fighting in the de-occupied territories of Kyivshchyna, there are a lot of explosive objects left. There are great dangers for the civilian population. Specialists of the State Emergency Situations Service continue demining works, but exclusively the forces of Ukrainian specialists and budget funds are not enough. Therefore, we attract certified operators, as well as funding from international partners, so that demining does not stretch for many years. Another important issue is the proper amount of professional equipment,” Kravchenko explained.
It is noted that the Swiss company provides a wide range of mine action assistance, in particular project management, consulting, survey and cleanup, capacity building, and training.
In 2024-2028, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will allocate 58.7 million francs for the digitalization and development of Ukrainian regions, including the digitalization of healthcare, education, humanitarian demining, and electronic notary.
According to Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology and Minister of Digital Transformation, this is stipulated in a memorandum signed on Wednesday.
“I met with Felix Baumann, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ukraine. The main result of the meeting is the signing of a memorandum for 58.7 million francs ($68.1 million) with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC),” Fedorov wrote in a telegram.
According to him, the funds will be allocated during 2024-2028 and will be used for the digitalization and development of Ukrainian regions, with projects implemented under the EGAP program implemented by the Eastern Europe Foundation. “We are focusing on the digitalization of healthcare services, electronic notary, education, humanitarian demining, and we continue to restart the State Statistics Service. Part of the funds will be used to support the frontline regions, and it is important to ensure access to public services in every community,” Fedorov listed the areas of use of the funds.
Fedorov recalled that with the support of the Swiss government, in 2024 alone, they launched an online marriage and a pilot of the Mriya project for 40 schools, and began testing Diia for civil servants. “We held another international Diia.Summit in Zurich, strengthening the international brand of digital Ukraine. It was there that we signed a memorandum on the opening of the Govtech center together with the World Economic Forum,” said Fedorov.
In general, Switzerland has been supporting digitalization since 2015 through the EGAP program, with partners allocating more than 30 million francs.
The Peace Summit, which will open on Saturday, June 15, in Switzerland, will be attended by 100 delegations, of which 92 represent states from around the world and 8 – international organizations, according to the press service of the Swiss government.
“President Viola Amerd will open the Summit on Peace in Ukraine on Saturday, June 15. The summit will be attended by 100 delegations, including 57 heads of state and government from around the world. The purpose of the summit is to launch a peace process, build trust and identify ideas on the next steps towards such a process. All states present should be given the opportunity to put forward their vision of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” the statement said.
The Swiss government has allocated CHF 58.7 million (EUR 60.6 million at the NBU exchange rate – IF-U) to continue supporting Ukraine in the field of digitalization and e-government over the next four years.
The decision was made by the Federal Council at a meeting on June 7, the Swiss government’s press service reports.
“Thus, Switzerland promotes democratic reforms in Ukraine through digitalization and at the same time increases the transparency of public services. Both areas are crucial for Ukraine’s recovery,” the statement said.
Switzerland will provide a total of 58.7 million Swiss francs in the period 2024-2028. The funding will come from the regular budget for international cooperation and will focus in particular on projects in regions directly affected by the war and important for the country’s future recovery. Some of the key areas will include health, education, and humanitarian demining.
It is noted that Switzerland will announce its support in the field of digitalization and e-government at the next Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will be held on June 11 and 12, 2024 in Berlin.
India will participate in the upcoming Peace Summit to be held on June 15-16 in Switzerland, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, The Siasat Daily reports.
“India will participate in all important summits that advance the agenda of global peace, security and development,” Modi said, as quoted by The Siasat Daily.
According to the newspaper, this refers to the G7 summit, which will be held in Italy on June 13-15, as well as the Global Peace Summit, which will be held on June 15-16 in Switzerland.
Modi noted that India will “be the voice of the Global South” at these summits to shape the global discourse and promote a vision of people-centered development and a prosperous and peaceful world. “The level of participation will depend on time, logistics and concurrent commitments,” said the Indian Prime Minister in response to a question about whether he would attend the meetings. According to Modi, India’s invitations to these summits demonstrate the importance of the country and the weight of its contribution to international affairs.
Source: https://www.siasat.com/india-to-participate-in-g-7-ukraine-peace-summits-pm-modi-3029281/
A Swiss parliamentary committee voted late on Thursday night in favor of allocating 5 billion Swiss francs ($5.5 billion) in aid to Ukraine, Reuters reports.
“A Swiss parliamentary committee voted late on Thursday night to allocate 5 billion Swiss francs ($5.5 billion) in aid to Ukraine as part of a broader package aimed at boosting the defense capabilities of neutral Switzerland. Backed by lawmakers from center-left and center-right parties, the upper house’s security committee approved the package, which provides 10.1 billion francs in additional funds for the army, along with the amount for Ukraine,” it said.
The plan was adopted by 8 votes to 5, with right-wing parties opposed. It is noted that it will have to pass a number of parliamentary hurdles before the plan becomes law.
“The parliament statement said the multi-billion dollar package was conceived as an extraordinary contribution to Swiss security and ‘peace in Europe’ in the wake of the war Russia is waging against Ukraine,” the statement said.
The parliament also said that the Ukrainian part of the package is aimed at supporting the reconstruction and repair ofeveryday infrastructure necessary for life in Ukraine.
