Japan has transferred around EUR 47.7 million for Ukraine's reconstruction and agreed on the launch of a new phase of the Emergency Recovery Programme: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development

The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development held a meeting with Masahiro Takehana, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine. First Deputy Minister Aliona Shkrum and Deputy Minister Maryna Denysiuk represented the Ministry at the meeting.

The key news at the meeting was the transfer of previously announced grant funds in the amount of JPY 8.8 billion, or approximately EUR 47.7 million, as part of Phase 4 of the Emergency Recovery Programme.

These funds will be used to support humanitarian demining, ensure energy infrastructure maintenance, restore water supply systems, improve public infrastructure in the regions, promote public health and safety projects, and provide educational services.

"We greatly appreciate Japan's continued support. The JPY 8.8 billion allocated is a real contribution to the safety and basic living conditions of Ukrainians. Directing these funds specifically to demining, energy, and water supply will strengthen the resilience of communities. We are grateful to the Government of Japan for understanding our priorities and responding quickly to urgent recovery needs," said Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Kuleba.

The Japanese side also announced that the Japanese Parliament had approved a supplementary budget that would allow the continuation of grant projects under Phase 5 of the Emergency Recovery Programme and provide technical support for projects in Ukraine.

"Japan remains one of our key strategic partners, and this decision on new funding is further proof of that. The grant assistance we receive allows us to meet critical needs where they are most needed: in frontline communities," notes Aliona Shkrum.

The parties also discussed the implementation of joint projects, the activities of the JUPITeR platform, and the current status of grant assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In particular, the meeting was devoted to preparations for the second JUPITeR mission and the selection of companies that will visit Ukraine in March next year.

"It is important for us that cooperation with Japan through JICA is transformed into concrete assistance where it is most needed. Heavy equipment is already operating in the frontline cities of Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv, ensuring the functioning of these cities. The launch of the fifth phase of the grant support project will allow us to focus next year on projects to provide housing for internally displaced persons, restore port infrastructure, provide heavy construction equipment with remote control capabilities, and so on," says Maryna Denysiuk.

Thus, one of the priorities for further cooperation is housing restoration. Japan has created a special task force on housing restoration, to which private businesses operating in this field are invited. A series of technical consultations is planned for next year to introduce Japanese technologies into housing construction in Ukraine.

In addition to housing construction, the parties discussed Ukraine's needs in the areas of transport logistics, energy efficiency and critical infrastructure protection within the framework of the Emergency Recovery Programme. They also outlined plans for joint cultural initiatives in the field of memorialisation.