The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine hosted a roundtable discussion focused on enhancing Ukraine’s public-private partnership (PPP) framework and fostering economic recovery. The event gathered representatives from Ukraine’s Parliament, the PPP Agency of the Ministry of Economy, the Project Office for the PPP Development in Infrastructure “SPILNO” of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the National Depository of Ukraine, the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Participants emphasized the urgency of improving relevant legislation and expediting the second reading of Draft Law #7508, which aims to enhance private investment attraction through the PPP mechanism.
Key takeaways include:
- MP Halyna Yanchenko, Head of the Temporary Special Commission of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Investors’ Rights Protection, outlined the reform of public-private partnerships as one of the key mechanisms for Ukraine's recovery, especially in the context of war. She highlighted the urgency of PPP reforms, emphasizing the need to expedite the adoption of Draft Law #7508 to simplify bureaucratic procedures and accelerate project implementation. She cited successful PPP models from Turkey and stressed the necessity of a flexible approach tailored to wartime realities.
- Niko Gachechyladze, Director of the PPP Agency of the Ministry of Economy, underscored three key components for successful PPP implementation: a strong legislative framework, broad government awareness, and a well-developed consultancy market. He noted progress began in 2019 with the adoption of Law of Ukraine #155-IX “On Concession.” However, he emphasized that awareness-raising, international expertise, and transparent project preparation are critical for investor confidence.
- Roman Stepanenko, Partner at Asters, highlighted the need for trust in the state, emphasizing a stable regulatory environment, transparency, and anti-corruption measures. He advocated for institutional capacity-building, transparent project selection, smart contracts, blockchain technologies, and improved judicial mechanisms for dispute resolution.
- Olena Voloshyna, Head of IFC Ukraine, underscored IFC’s role in structuring PPPs, including concessional agreements in Chornomorsk seaport. She reiterated the necessity of legal reforms to facilitate large-scale private investments, citing existing state-imposed restrictions as barriers to implementation.
- Oleksii Yudin, CEO of the National Depository of Ukraine, discussed their role as the central depository managing financial instruments. He highlighted wartime innovations like the bondholder meeting platform for debt restructuring and agrarian notes, a tool supporting small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises with improved access to funding.
- Artem Gerganov, AmCham Banking & Finance Committee Co-Chair and Deputy Chairman of Citi Ukraine, shared global perspectives on post-war infrastructure reconstruction. He emphasized strategic investors' interest in Ukraine’s infrastructure but warned that political will and a robust legal framework are crucial for attracting investment. He also discussed hybrid financing mechanisms and the importance of waste management and energy capacity for medium-sized cities.
- Taras Boychuk, Head of the Project Office for PPP Development in Infrastructure “SPILNO,” stressed the importance of establishing a reliable fund for financial certificates, referencing Peru’s successful experience. He noted that Chornomorsk seaport's first and container terminals would proceed as a PPP concession, with an investment conference scheduled for April 24, 2025, in Warsaw, Poland, to introduce the project to potential investors.
- Oleksandr Saienko, Counselor at Georgian Industrial Group (GIG), shared insights from GIG’s experience with the Kherson port concession project, detailing challenges posed by war, occupation, and infrastructure damage. He stressed the need for job creation and economic revitalization in affected regions and called for targeted solutions for infrastructure recovery.
The roundtable reinforced the shared commitment to accelerating PPP reforms, strengthening investor confidence and facilitating Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
