1,200 Polish companies from the construction, food, automotive, pharmaceutical and chemical industries have declared their interest in rebuilding Ukraine and resuming exports there, announced Minister for Development and Technology Waldemar Buda.

A forum for companies was held at the National Stadium in Warsaw to discuss barriers to resume or start operations in Ukraine and trade with that country. This is the first such meeting for companies in Poland and probably the first such event in Europe.

“We have not heard of anyone organising such a large event on reconstruction and trade exchange with Ukraine”, said the Minister of Development.

The head of the Ministry of Development and Technology said that 1,200 Polish companies had expressed interest in their presence in Ukraine. The minister noted that trade exchange between Poland and Ukraine is growing significantly.

“The first half of the year and June alone show dynamic growths, even of several dozen percent. In relation to last year, it is even almost 100 percent. This shows that this sector, which practically froze on 24 February, today, in principle, is beginning to return to normal, of course, not in all industries” he noted.

The development minister announced that a Poland-Ukraine intergovernmental commission will be held in Rzeszów on 22 September to gather the conclusions of the forum. He added that the ministry has launched a sub-website where information on tenders from international institutions concerning the reconstruction of Ukraine and trade with the country is available.

Minister Buda pointed out that the Export Credit Insurance Corporation resumed the insurance of short-term contracts between Poland and Ukraine. The next step will be to start insuring long-term contracts, i.e. those that will involve investments.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński