Over 100,000 facilities restored: Oleksii Kuleba at OECD Ministerial Meeting

On 19-20 May, Warsaw hosted the OECD Ministerial Meeting of member states and partners, focusing on strengthening regional policies for sustainable development and resilient territories.

Ministers from over 50 countries participated in the event. Ukraine was represented by Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksii Kuleba, who spoke at the plenary session.

“The key distinction of Ukraine’s experience is the constant threat to security. Ukraine is living through a full-scale war, ongoing shelling, and air raid alerts. Yet, we are not halting development. On the contrary, our communities remain functional, and the system continues to operate,” said Oleksii Kuleba.

He informed participants about the scale of destruction in Ukraine, with over 350,000 facilities – housing, hospitals, schools, roads, utilities, and port infrastructure – damaged or destroyed. However, more than 100,000 facilities have already been restored.

Special attention was given to the situation in frontline regions. As an example, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that Kharkiv, located just 30 km from the russian border, is home to over 1 million people. “In frontline areas, businesses operate, transport functions, and people live, supporting the economy and the country. Our responsibility is to provide them with support, services, and prospects,” he emphasised.

During his speech, Oleksii Kuleba presented Ukraine’s approaches to reforming the public investment management system. All projects submitted by communities for funding are processed through the DREAM digital ecosystem, ensuring transparency and oversight. A geospatial information system is also being introduced to monitor regional needs and development disparities in real time.

“Digital tools are a key element of the reform. They not only save resources but also build trust in the state. According to the UN, Ukraine is already among the top five countries globally for e-governance,” Oleksii Kuleba stressed.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the importance of Ukraine’s partnership with the OECD. The previously presented OECD Economic Survey of Ukraine and Integrity Review, developed with the organisation’s experts, have served as practical guides for government decisions at national and regional levels.

“The OECD is a strategic partner for us. We hope for continued support in implementing international standards in budget planning, public administration, and regional development,” he added.

Ukraine, as an OECD partner country, continues its path toward full membership by implementing reforms aligned with the organisation’s principles. Participation in the ministerial meeting marked another step in strengthening international dialogue around the recovery and development of Ukrainian territories.