On October 25th, Alla Savchenko, President of BDO in Ukraine, participated in the conference titled “Ukraine is looking to Build Back Better: What financial tools are available to unlock Ukrainian and Norwegian competence, technology and capital?” in Oslo, Norway.
The event was arranged by our partner, — the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC). The day before, Alla Savchenko discussed further cooperation and joint projects with them.
At the event, senior representatives from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) showcased their activities in Ukraine’s recovery. They discussed how Norwegian and Ukrainian partnerships can leverage EBRD's financial mechanisms to unlock vital competence, technology, and capital for Ukraine. For years, the EBRD has been Ukraine's largest institutional investor, making its role in the country both unique and significant. With its robust financial resources and extensive operational expertise in the region, the EBRD is one of the major first partners of the Nansen Support Programme in Ukraine.
EBRD’s Response to war
The EBRD has reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine, pledging to invest €3.0 billion from 2022 to 2023 to support the country's businesses and economy. The bank's focus areas include Trade Finance, Vital Infrastructure, Energy and Food Security and Private Sector Resilience. Special attention is being given to leveraging donor funding effectively to maximize the EBRD's response to Ukraine's urgent needs.
Since the start of the war, the EBRD has invested a total of €395 million in the Industry, Commerce & Agribusiness (ICA) sector, encompassing 23 projects.
Key Features
- Engagement in the Public, Private, and Municipal sectors, with a focus on the food value chain, building materials, and overall corporate resilience.
- Financing for working capital and capital expenditures including new projects that focus on green investments.
- A variety of financing structures, including loans, equity, and risk-sharing facilities, as well as investments into equity funds.
- Mobilisation of grant funding (EU, E5P, bi-laterals) and co-financing with other IFIs/DFIs (European Investment Bank, World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Nordic Environment Finance Corporation)
Procurement during wartime
The EBRD is adapting its procurement strategies to the wartime conditions, including risk assessments and market consultations. The bank is maintaining a preference for open tendering but is adopting a more flexible approach given the circumstances. For example:
- Shorter tendering times, flexible tender terms;
- More favorable contract terms;
- Direct contracts, where appropriate;
- Possibility of financing refurbished/used equipment.
Opportunities and Support
Businesses can engage with EBRD as consultants for procurement support, technical inspection, lender’s monitoring and assessments or as suppliers in bank-financed projects. EBRD offers dedicated market consultation, training on its procurement processes and use of ECEPP (electronic procurement platform).
Current Opportunities for Norwegian companies to work with the EBRD
In a move to strengthen international partnerships, the EBRD is actively inviting Norwegian companies to collaborate. Offering a wide array of financial tools and market expertise across nearly 40 economies, the EBRD presents a unique opportunity for Norwegian businesses to expand their global footprint.
The EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) aims to bolster foreign trade through various products, including guarantees and trade-related cash advances. EBRD supports trade by providing:
- Guarantees: Covering risks associated with trade finance transactions.
- Short Term Advances/Financing: Provided to banks in the economies where the EBRD invests for trade finance purposes.
- Factoring: Extended to banks/factoring companies for factoring-related activities.
Beyond finance and trade, the EBRD also provides opportunities for Norwegian suppliers, contractors, and consultants to engage in procurement opportunities worldwide. For more information on EBRD financing, TFP and Procurement information, please read here.
The EBRD’s unique value proposition for investors encompasses local expertise, risk mitigation, and market leadership. With 50 resident offices in 36 economies, the bank has a strong local presence and political leverage. It also supports legal and regulatory improvements, offers low-cost technical assistance, and provides innovative financial products, including local-currency finance to mitigate currency risks.
We hope both Ukrainian and Norwegian organizations will explore and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the EBRD to help Ukraine in its Recovery process. Find out more useful information in Investor’s Guide, updated on monthly basis by BDO in Ukraine experts.
