The Diplomat The Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, agreed yesterday with the First Deputy Minister and Minister of Economic Development of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, the adoption of a “very clear roadmap” to contribute to the reconstruction and economic recovery of the country. Cuerpo has been in Kyiv since yesterday with a delegation of 23 Spanish companies to identify “opportunities and synergies” for collaboration in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The objective of the two-day visit, the first by a Spanish economy minister since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is to “leverage the experience of Spanish companies in priority areas to help modernize the country,” according to the report. Ministry in a press release. Public and private companies participate in the delegation, such as Acciona Energía, Adif, CAF, Grupo Cobra, Matachana, Renfe, among others, as well as the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE). The group includes both representatives of large groups with more than 30,000 workers and small companies with fewer than ten employees. According to the Ministry, Ukraine offers great potential for Spanish companies that are world leaders in numerous sectors such as infrastructure construction, railways, renewable energy, technology, agribusiness and health. Yesterday's day began with an "emotional and shocking visit" to the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen of Ukraine, accompanied by Yulia Svyrydenko, as Cuerpo wrote through the social network X. Next, Cuerpo met with the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, and with Yulia Svyrydenko, with whom he signed the minutes of the Spain-Ukraine Joint Commission, which will establish a permanent dialogue at the highest level to explore ways to strengthen ties. commercial and economic relations. Likewise, he participated in the fourth meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Industrial Cooperation, which was attended by representatives of the two countries with the aim of strengthening economic ties and identifying opportunities for collaboration, and in which both parties agreed on a “very clear roadmap” to start working “from tomorrow” on specific projects that contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine, as declared by Cuerpo in the joint press conference with Yulia Sviridenko. “To achieve this, we will make the most of the business meeting that will take place tomorrow morning (today) to jointly explore opportunities for collaboration,” added Cuerpo, who specified that, during yesterday's meeting, the different instruments that go to allow Spanish companies to invest in Ukraine, including the Fund for the Internationalization of Spanish Companies. Additionally, the minister announced that “Spain has committed an additional three million euros to its initial disbursement of 1.5 million to be able to continue helping and continue advancing” in the demining process. Today, Thursday, the minister will inaugurate a Ukraine-Spain business meeting, organized by both governments in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and the CEOE and in which Spanish companies will try to position themselves and establish local contacts for development of future reconstruction projects. According to the Ministry, exports from Ukraine to Spain have grown in the last two years despite the war. Spain is the eighth destination for Ukrainian products, mainly agricultural (cereals and oils), and is in a deficit position with respect to exports, consisting of weapons, ammunition, vehicles and components. In the opinion of the Ministry, "reinforcing the role of Spanish companies in Ukraine will also help to strengthen and balance economic and commercial relations between both countries." The visit of Minister Carlos Cuerpo occurs almost a month after the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, signed in Madrid a bilateral political security and defense agreement that will allow the contribution of one billion euros in of military support in 2024.
