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.
Practical Workshop on Business Support Tools
As part of the Norwegian delegation’s visit to Lviv, a practical workshop was held within the framework of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Construction Hub project for Ukrainian and Norwegian partners, business representatives and other project participants. The event focused on specific business support tools, funding opportunities and ways to implement reconstruction projects, as well as the development of new Ukrainian-Norwegian partnerships.
During the seminar, representatives from NEFCO and UNDP presented international programmes and tools available for reconstruction projects in Ukraine. Particular attention was paid to financial mechanisms that could be useful for businesses, preparing projects for financing, and opportunities for private companies to participate in their implementation. This session was specifically included in the visit’s programme alongside a presentation of the Norway Desk and subsequent networking for partners and delegation members.
In particular, the discussion centred on projects in the fields of energy efficiency, water supply and sanitation, renewable energy, and the construction and modernisation of public and social infrastructure. For business representatives, this was an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how the relevant programmes work, what requirements projects need to meet, and at what stages companies can get involved — through procurement processes, the supply of technologies and materials, engineering solutions, technical support and other services.
A separate session was dedicated to the Norway Desk initiative in Lviv, which was presented as a practical entry point for Norwegian companies interested in working with Ukraine. The platform is designed to help businesses find Ukrainian partners, access relevant contacts, navigate funding opportunities and develop new joint projects.
Networking for delegation members, SUP member companies and project partners also formed an important part of the programme, allowing participants to take discussions further through direct contacts, potential partnerships and future joint initiatives.