On March 5, 2025, the Third Ukraine Resilience Business Forum took place in Luxembourg, with over 200 representatives of Ukrainian and European businesses in attendance, including BDO in Ukraine.
The event, organized by the Luxembourg-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (LUCC), provided a significant forum for discussing economic cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the context of martial law and post-war recovery.
This year’s forum united the representatives of the Government of Ukraine, the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, numerous international organizations, the representatives of Ukrainian business and local authorities.
The participants discussed areas of financing Ukraine’s recovery, including the investment opportunities, the prospects for Ukrainian business, the path to the EU, support for startups, development of innovation and new technologies, investment guarantees, martial law risk insurance and energy sustainability in times of war. The event has become a key platform for forging partnerships that will have a significant impact on the country’s recovery and long-term growth.
The European Commission spokesman Orest Tokač emphasized the crucial role of the EU’s €135 billion support in paving Ukraine’s path toward the EU membership. He further underscored the direct correlation between this support and Ukraine’s victory in the war, highlighting the pivotal nexus between stability and peace for Ukraine’s European integration.
“Ukraine is our top priority,” confirmed Lionel Rapaille, representing the European Investment Bank. He noted that the Bank has already provided more than €2.6 billion in support, focusing on energy, economic and social resilience.
Ukraine was represented at the Third Ukraine Resilience Business Forum 2025 in Luxembourg by Olga Zykova, Deputy Minister of Finance. In her speech, she highlighted Ukraine’s growing leadership role on the global stage, underscoring its escalating economic and geopolitical importance. She also noted that the war is driving significant changes in global processes and international alliances. She emphasized the necessity of not only addressing the destruction, caused by the russia’s war, but also rebuilding the country in a manner that aligns with the concept of “restore better”, through the implementation of innovative solutions and reforms that will meet the requirements for EU accession.
On behalf of BDO in Ukraine, the event was attended by Senior Lawyer Vyacheslav Petrashenko, who shared his impressions:
“The forum took place in the “second capital” of the European Union, adjacent to the European Parliament building, and fostered a certain sense of Euro-optimism. Preparations for Ukraine’s accession to the EU are underway, and the representatives of European institutions, including the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, have expressed their full support. They emphasized that Ukraine has made significant progress in several areas, including digitalization, electronic services and the performance of its defense sector, placing it ahead of some EU member states in the process of EU accession. It was nice to hear the European business representatives tell of their successful cases in Ukraine, talking about the reduction of bureaucratic obstacles to business and the positive outcomes of Ukraine’s anti-corruption reform. Among the specific steps of the EU support for business, particular attention was paid to the EU4 Business Guarantee Facility financing program, available to small and medium-sized enterprises in Ukraine,” said Vyacheslav Petrashenko.
The forum became a positive step towards furthering cooperation between Ukraine and its European partners. In terms of economic recovery, the forum contributed to the development of new opportunities for investment and innovation.
BDO in Ukraine actively supports strategic initiatives that are aimed at sustainable development, integration of Ukrainian business into the global economy, and attraction of investments for the country’s further development, including reconstruction. Our participation in the forum underscores our commitment to overcoming the challenges posed by the war and contributing to the development of Ukraine’s economic potential. Should you
