The “Polish-Ukrainian Business Days” Forum has been held on regular basis since 2014 in Poland and Ukraine. It aims at exchanging the views, establishing cooperation and supporting the expansion of foreign direct investments. This-year debate was dominated by the reconstruction of Ukraine in the post-war period and its impact on both the Polish-Ukrainian trade relationships and global economy. The Ministry of Economic Development and Technology took the honorable auspices over the event.

Reconstruction of Ukraine in the short-time perspective is the no. 1 economic goal for the entire Europe, if not the world. Poland may act as the aid transport hub for the reconstruction of Ukraine

– said Waldermar Buda, Minister of Economic Development and Technology, in his opening speech at the forum.

Minister Waldemar Buda emphasized that the war in Ukraine and support provided by Poland to the Ukrainian nation have brought both countries together.

Trust matters in business a lot, if not the most. We have built a great trust between the Polish and Ukrainian nation, which will affect our economic relations. We have a major target to deliver – to reconstruct Ukraine together

– said the Minister of Economic Development and Technology.

Minister Waldemar Buda said that the process of reconstruction of Ukraine after the end of the war is a challenge that cannot be overestimated. He stressed that its delivery and development of systemic economic relations should be implemented in cooperation with the Polish and Ukrainian administration.

The Minister of Economic Development and Technology referred also to the support provided by Poland to the Ukrainian citizens, who have found shelter in our country.  

There are more than 3 million of Ukrainian citizens in Poland. Where there is a nation, there is also a demand for services and products. It is perfectly natural that the Ukrainian companies will operate in Poland in response to the needs of the Ukrainians in our country

– said the Minister, wishing the Ukrainian entrepreneurs fruitful business relations in our country.  

15th International Forum “Polish-Ukrainian Business Days”

This-year forum was attended by more than 40 lecturers from Ukraine and Poland, including among others the Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andrii Deshchytsia, President of the Polish Agency for Investment and Trade Krzysztof Drynda, the Ukrainian and Polish entrepreneurs and representatives of business associations, development banks and other institutions.

The meeting participants debated in the thematic panels focused on development of trade and business cooperation of Ukraine and Poland, perspective of the Ukrainian economic recovery, Polish and international support programmes for Ukraine, including the temporary relocation of the Ukrainian entrepreneurs to Poland as well as the scheme for solving legal issues in the period of international sanctions.

Polish-Ukrainian economic cooperation

In recent years, Ukraine has strengthened its position as the important export partner of Poland. Since 2016 the Polish – Ukrainian trading has been increasing on a regular basis. In 2021 it grew by 40% compared with the previous year, reaching USD 12.5 billion. The import from Ukraine boosted by more than 70% up to the value of USD 5 billion.

Polish investments in Ukraine have also recorded a significant growth. The number of companies run by the Ukrainian citizens in Poland has increased (more than 20 thousand in recent year). According to the estimations, approx. 1.2 thousand of SMEs with the Polish and Ukrainian capital have been operating on the Ukrainian market in the pre-war period. The Ukrainian sources state that there are nearly 2.9 thousand of companies with Polish capital registered in Ukraine. According to data provided by the National Bank of Poland (NBP), the receivables for the Polish direct investment in Ukraine amounted to USD 337 million as of the end of 2020.