As part of the visit of the Norwegian delegation to Lviv, a series of meetings was held within the framework of the Norway–Ukraine Building and Construction Hub, of which the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP) is a partner. The project brings together Ukrainian and Norwegian companies, business associations, research and academic institutions to exchange expertise and develop practical cooperation in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
The delegation included representatives of Norwegian companies and research organisations working in the fields of construction, infrastructure, architecture, water systems, the circular economy, demolition, and the reuse of construction materials.
Norway: From Expertise to Pilot Projects
The first day of the visit began with a working meeting coordinated by the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC), with the participation of project partners and Ukrainian stakeholders. The main topics included Ukraine’s reconstruction needs, the challenges currently facing the construction sector, and opportunities to engage Norwegian expertise, technologies and businesses in specific projects.
Anneli Allatalo Paulsen, Research Director in Infrastructure, Materials and Resource Optimisation at SINTEF, presented the Norway–Ukraine Building and Construction Hub and the members of the Norwegian delegation. She emphasised that one of the project’s goals is to help Ukrainian and Norwegian partners move from the exchange of knowledge and expertise to concrete cooperation and joint pilot projects.
SUP: A Bridge Between Ukrainian and Norwegian Businesses
Olena Hemusova, Head of the Centre for International Cooperation at the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs, presented SUP as a project partner and a platform for direct engagement between international partners and Ukrainian businesses. The Union brings together more than 1,300 companies and can facilitate the search for Ukrainian partners, identification of businesses’ actual needs, exchange of expertise, and development of joint projects.
Reconstruction Is About More Than Square Metres
Lviv Chief Architect Anton Kolomiytsev presented the city’s development vision and key areas where international expertise could be particularly relevant. These include compact urban development, the revitalisation of industrial areas, the development of public transport and the railway hub. Particular attention was also given to the integrated development of the northern part of Lviv and the UNBROKEN ecosystem, which combines medical care, rehabilitation, prosthetics, housing, and the restoration of damaged buildings.
Mikael Ullero (AF Gruppen) emphasised the Norwegian business community’s interest in practical involvement in Ukraine’s reconstruction and proposed starting with specific small-scale projects that could subsequently be scaled up.
Sindre Log (SINTEF Community) spoke about Norway’s experience in long-term planning of underground urban infrastructure and the potential for applying this experience in Ukraine.
This is only the first day of the Norwegian delegation’s programme in Ukraine. The visit includes a series of working meetings and other activities with representatives of Ukrainian businesses, local authorities, relevant organisations and other stakeholders. Their aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the needs of Ukraine’s construction sector, identify promising areas for cooperation, and find concrete opportunities for future joint projects.
The next task for the partners is to turn expertise and established contacts into concrete pilot projects, combining Norwegian technologies and engineering expertise with the needs of Ukrainian communities and the capabilities of Ukrainian businesses.