The conference “Catalonia and Ukraine's Reconstruction: Commitment, Cooperation, Business,” held at the Llotja de Mar in Barcelona, brought together representatives from the Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv, as well as from the Government of Catalonia, the Spanish Government, and European institutions, alongside Catalan and Ukrainian business leaders. Through five roundtables, current challenges in Ukraine, investment support mechanisms, and on-the-ground business experiences were discussed.
The Minister for European Union and External Action, Jaume Duch, highlighted that this public-private initiative is a continuation of the institutional commitment conveyed by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, during his visit to Ukraine. “Today, we want to take another step by translating this cooperation into economic relations, projects, and business opportunities,” stated Duch, emphasizing the executive's aim to involve the Catalan business community in the reconstruction, striving for a more modern, digital, and sustainable economy.
To facilitate the launch of projects in Ukraine, the conference included representatives from the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the Spanish Office for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, and ACCIÓ, to provide information on available financing and support mechanisms. Ukrainian and Catalan companies with experience in the country also participated, sharing their insights and noting that “working in Ukraine is not an abstraction, but a reality with difficulties, yet also with good results.”
The event featured opening remarks from Josep Santacreu, president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, and Iúlia Sokolóvska, Ambassador of Ukraine to Spain. The roundtables were moderated by various institutional representatives, including Minister Duch himself, the Secretary General for European Union and External Action, Lorena Elvira, and the Secretary for European Affairs, Agustí Fernández de Losada, among others.
The conference is part of Catalonia's ongoing commitment to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian aid such as the 800,000 euros allocated to the United Nations' Ukraine Humanitarian Fund, cooperation agreements with the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Lviv, and the Catalonia-Ukraine Resilience Alliance (CURA) project, funded with 200,000 euros. Since the Russian invasion, Catalonia has welcomed displaced populations and provided support to its healthcare system.
