– We must work together to rebuild Ukraine. But a Ukrainian victory is a prerequisite, says Boris Johnson to news, before he has to run on. As prime minister, Boris Johnson supported Ukraine, something he continues to do even after he recently retired from politics. The former British Prime Minister is among the over a thousand guests who attended a major reconstruction conference in London today. Ukraine and Great Britain are the hosts, and the purpose is to collect funds for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The price for rebuilding Ukraine will be over NOK 4,700 billion, according to the World Bank. And as long as the war in the country continues, the price will increase. In addition to heads of state and former prime ministers, 400 business leaders are also in place. And they are very desirable. Because Western heads of state are clear that they cannot build up Ukraine alone. They need the private sector. Earlier today, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt announced that Norway is giving 300 million to Ukraine, in addition to the 75 billion we already give via the Nansen programme. But Huitfeldt is clear that it is not just direct financial support that Norway can offer. Young people dance in front of a Bomba cultural center in Kharkiv. In February, Unesco reported that 240 cultural buildings in Ukraine have been destroyed since the war started. Photo: AFP – The Ukrainians pointed out that they need more renewable energy. Norway has a lot to offer there, says Huitfeldt to news. During today’s meeting, President Zelenskyj said that it is important to invest in green energy, and that they will be part of Europe’s green shift. Norwegian companies are ready Norwegian business is also in London. The Norwegian company Emergy is among those who can offer energy. Managing director Joar Viken is present at the conference, and tells about a large wind project they have planned in Ukraine. Joar Viken in Emergy is ready to build a wind farm in Ukraine – if only he gets insurance. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news – We are ready to build when things calm down, he says to news. Viken is clear that heavy financing and guarantees are needed to ensure they are to start construction. Huitfeldt acknowledges that there is a great risk associated with investing in a war-torn country: – Therefore, the private sector must cooperate with the authorities. Governing authorities must provide assurances, and that work must be planned for the future, says the Minister of Foreign Affairs to news. Foreign Minister Huitfeldt in conversation with Norwegian business and organizational leaders in London today. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news But even if there are risks associated with setting up in Ukraine today, Viken believes that there are business opportunities there: – Ukraine will need many new establishments, and therefore renewable energy will be in demand. If you do not have renewable energy, there will be no new establishment. A great business opportunity The technology company Itera is also in London. Managing director Arne Mjøs says that regardless of the guarantee schemes, they will invest in Ukraine: – WE are not dependent on guarantee schemes, but I see that large schemes will be put in place. Construction is already underway. Many businesses need IT services. It will cost thousands of billions to rebuild Ukraine after the war. In Mariupol, 90 percent of the buildings have been destroyed in Russian attacks, according to the UN. Photo: Reuters – We heard today that Ukraine will become a significant power producer. This means that we in Norway get lower electricity prices. And an energy industry must be built here, in addition to digitalisation. For us, it is a great business opportunity, says Mjøs. He points out that Ukraine needs over NOK 4,000 billion to rebuild the country: – That’s a third of the Oil Fund. It will be a large market place for all possible industries. Welfare is needed, not just infrastructure Halyna Postoliuk in the welfare organization “Hope and Homes for Children” works to get children deported back to Ukraine. Both those who have fled, but also those who are said to have been forcibly moved to Russia. A report from Yale University shows that they will involve around 6,000 children. – Private investments must not only go into physical infrastructure, but also into welfare, to get the children back home. We can’t do it alone, says Postoliuk. A long-awaited hug: 17 Ukrainian children were picked up by the organization Save Ukraine in February, from a Russian camp. Photo: AFP She gets support from Daria Kasyanova, chairman of the Ukrainian Child Rights Network: – We want our children to be in families, not in institutions. Many are abroad and many in Russia. We want them in a foster family. Kasyanova says that the efforts to get children back from Russia have paid off. – But we must have all our children back, she says. Ukraine has great prerequisites – In the same way that the West has gained confidence in Ukraine’s capabilities on the battlefield, so the West has gained more confidence in Ukraine’s ability to rebuild the country. That’s what Martin Sandbu, economic commentator in the Financial Times, says. He points out that Ukraine has a vision that they should not only rebuild the country as it was, but that it should be made better, and in line with the EU’s goals for the green shift. Sandbu believes that Ukraine has great potential for renewable energy: – They have good experience in metallurgy, so green steel is something that Ukraine can become an important player in. They have nuclear power and expertise there, and they are close to Europe. Even during the war there has been an export of electrical power to Europe. Corruption is being cracked down on Ukraine is struggling with corruption in the country. In Transparency International’s corruption index for 2021, Ukraine ranks high on the list: No. 33 out of 100 countries. The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen pink Ukraine for cracking down on corruption during the reconstruction conference in London. Photo: AP When asked by news whether it is important that corruption is cracked down on in terms of willingness to finance, Sandbu replies: – It is extremely important. Through the conference and other meetings between Ukraine and partner countries in the west, people have become aware of how much work Ukraine has put into this process. At the conference today, Ukraine was praised by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for the fact that Ukraine has taken measures to crack down on corruption in the country. – The work is done, even at the highest level, says Sandbu. Hear also:
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Norwegian companies are ready when Ukraine is to be rebuilt – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
