On October 7-8, the Congress for the Reconstruction of Ukraine COMMON FUTURE-2024 took place in Poznań.
The Congress became an important step in the dialogue regarding the needs of the Ukrainian economy and the potential for cooperation with Polish partners. The event served as a platform for lively panel discussions, thematic seminars, and effective networking. Thanks to the Congress, a solid legal and economic foundation was laid for cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The event gathered over 1,000 participants, with 100 speakers sharing their expert opinions on 40 discussion panels.
The delegation of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP) actively participated in the Congress. In particular, SUP’s Executive Director, Kateryna Glazkova, took part in a panel discussion titled “Reconstruction – a Task for Giants or SMEs?” moderated by Dr. Andrzej Wrenbyak, Managing Director of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce. Other participants in the discussion included:
– Mariusz Adamczak, Director of Market Strategies Office, PKO Bank Polski
– Piotr Czarkowski, Vice President of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce
– Martine Diss, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
– Agnieszka Falkowska, Director of International Development Instruments Department, BGK
– Anatoliy Kinakh, President of the Ukrainian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, former Prime Minister of Ukraine
– Michal Polanski, Director of the Entrepreneurship Development Department, PARP
As Kateryna Glazkova noted, “The reconstruction of Ukraine after the massive destruction caused by the war is an extremely responsible and complex task. The number of facilities needing reconstruction requires significant resources and coordination of efforts from both large corporations and SMEs. It is important to understand that rebuilding the country after such large-scale destruction is not only a matter for global ‘players,’ but also for local companies capable of making their contribution to this process.”
The opening of the SUP’s European office in Warsaw earlier this year was an important step in developing cooperation with Polish partners. Participation in the Congress confirmed our commitment to the common goal of rebuilding Ukraine. Through joint efforts, we were able to discuss concrete steps for attracting investment and developing joint projects that will help restore our country after the destruction of the war.
Kateryna Glazkova also emphasized that “Ukraine needs large-scale building materials to restore residential buildings, infrastructure, and public and private enterprises,” noting that “the significant shortage of building materials in Ukraine opens up great opportunities for local producers, which can be SMEs.”
“The reconstruction of Ukraine is not only a task for large corporations but also for small and medium-sized enterprises. The participation of SMEs in national recovery programs will not only help with the physical reconstruction of the country but also create a stable economy capable of supporting long-term development,” Glazkova concluded.
