Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong and representatives of Korean business.
During the meeting, the head of state conveyed his gratitude to the government of the Republic of Korea for the decision to provide Ukraine with financial support in the amount of 2.3 billion dollars for post-war reconstruction.
“I think this will give a boost to the development of Ukrainian infrastructure,” Zelensky said and added that it is important for Ukraine that representatives of Korean business actively work on the Ukrainian market and participate in the implementation of projects in the development of nuclear and renewable energy, machine building, automotive industry, lithium mining, oil refining, “green” metallurgy, railway transport, and others.
“It is important that they (Korean businesses – IF-U) feel my personal support. We are interested in you entering more deeply into the Ukrainian economy,” he said.
As the president emphasised, such cooperation will allow Ukraine to provide new jobs and new economic growth both for itself and for the Republic of Korea.
Zelensky also expressed gratitude to the Korean side for supporting the initiatives of the First Lady of Ukraine when she was on a visit to the Republic of Korea.
For his part, Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong stressed that Korea stands for peace and defence of Ukrainian sovereignty, as well as for countering Russia’s illegal invasion.
He also noted that the visit of representatives of the Korean government and business to Kiev was a direct demonstration of support for Ukraine.
In addition, the minister expressed his belief that bilateral cooperation could be expanded in various areas of common interests.
According to the press service of the Ukrainian president, the parties signed an agreement between the governments on loans from the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The agreement provides for the possibility of granting favourable loans for the implementation of projects in Ukraine with the participation of Korean companies. The document was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Economics Minister Yuliya Sviridenko on the Ukrainian side and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine Kim Hyong-Tae on the Korean side.
