Italian Minister of Enterprise Visits Kyiv to Discuss Reconstruction

On Jan 12, the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, arrived in Kyiv on an official visit for talks with the Ukrainian government. He was welcome at Kyiv’s railway station by the Italian Ambassador Pier Francesco Zazo. The news was reported in a tweet by the minister himself, during his journey by train to the Ukrainian capital.

The minister was accompanied by Carlo Bonomi, president of Confindustria (Federation of Italian employers), and Francesco Taló, diplomatic adviser to Italian President Giorgia Meloni. 

Urso’s arrival in Kyiv comes a day after a majority vote by the Italian Senate on a new decree for the shipment of weapons and equipment to Ukraine in 2023.

As part of meetings scheduled with representatives of the Ukrainian government, the minister will present Italy's commitments in the field of humanitarian, social and economic aid, as well as industrial and technological cooperation. These efforts are expected to lay the foundations for possible partnerships with Italian companies to help deliver the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Deals to support Ukraine’s reconstruction

Several European countries have begun to strike deals with the Ukrainian government to secure a slice of reconstruction work in the country.

In April 2022, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson offered the contribution of British companies for the reconstruction of Kyiv and the northern region destroyed by the Russian invasion.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has guaranteed deals for hundreds of millions of euros to French companies. During an international conference on Ukraine, held in Paris on Dec. 13, Macron invited French companies to do more "without waiting for the end of the war." Bilateral agreements have already been signed on sustainable cities and initial contracts, which include materials for the reconstruction of bridges.

After a bilateral meeting between President Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held in Lviv on Aug. 18, the Turkish trade minister and the Ukrainian infrastructure minister signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

"Turkish business and government structures will be able to develop specific reconstruction projects and provide advice and technical assistance," the Turkish ministry announced. Hence, Erdogan too has secured a place in the business of rebuilding Ukraine.

Urso previously came to Ukraine September 2022, when he was chairman of the COPASIR (Italian parliamentary committee for surveillance of the secret services). The freshly appointed minister also telephoned Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President's office, to reiterate solidarity with the Ukrainian people on behalf of Giorgia Meloni’s government.