Yuliia Svyrydenko at a meeting with SUEZ in Paris: We aim to implement world’s most advanced technologies in the utilities sector in Ukraine

Ukraine hopes for participation of world’s leading companies in the reconstruction of our country. This was discussed during a meeting of First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko with the leadership of a French company SUEZ, which is one of the world leaders in the field of water management and waste treatment and disposal.

The meeting was attended by SUEZ’s Senior Vice President Vincent Menuet and Head of International Development Timothée Cargill.

“russian aggression has led to significant destruction of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. There are major problems with water supply in the liberated territories, in the regions where there were active hostilities. This is especially true for the south and east of Ukraine: Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The scope of work is extremely large. But we will restore everything, and we hope for SUEZ’s participation in this work.

Another area where we would be interested in the company’s experience and capabilities is waste management. Ukraine will develop a ‘green’ economy based on key EU principles. And we want the most advanced technologies existing in the world to be implemented in our country,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko.

During the meeting of the Ukrainian delegation with SUEZ leadership, the parties discussed possibilities of company’s participation in the following projects:

• restoration and construction of water supply and treatment facilities;
• construction of waste treatment facilities;
• restoration of ecological condition of land, water resources, protection of the ecosphere;
• investments in industrial parks.

In particular, as Yuliia Svyrydenko noted, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, with the support of a UNIDO technical assistance project and with the participation of interested central executive authorities, is shaping a policy to promote implementation of an eco-industrial park model in Ukraine.

In turn, the French side expressed interest in cooperation, in particular through the mechanisms of public-private partnership (PPP).

As noted by the Ukrainian side, our state is constantly working on the improvement and development of existing PPP mechanisms. In particular, this year the President signed amendments to the Budget Code on regulation of budgetary relations during implementation of agreements concluded in the framework of public-private partnership, including concession agreements (draft law No 5090). The decision allows for a much wider use of PPP mechanisms. Namely, it introduces a mechanism that is implemented on projects that do not generate income. This is very important for social infrastructure facilities.

Also, this mechanism allows for long-term debt planning both at the state level and at the level of municipalities, which can potentially become active players in the field of PPP. A draft law has already been registered in the Verkhovna Rada, which significantly simplifies the mechanisms for the implementation of PPP projects and can potentially reduce the period of review of concession projects from 18 to 7 months.

In addition, during the meeting, the parties discussed the potential involvement of the FONDATION SUEZ charitable foundation in the eRobota grant projects implemented by the Ukrainian Government.

SUEZ representatives noted that they allow the use of funds in this area, given that the proposed grant mechanisms have a significant element of added value for the development of GDP and the economy of Ukraine as a whole.