The commitment of Italian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine. The president of Confindustria, Carlo Bonomi, assured this to President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday 20 June, in a face-to-face meeting held in Kiev. The number one industrialist went in person to shake hands with the leader of Ukraine precisely to show that the Italian business world will be at the forefront in lifting the country from the rubble. “It was a very important meeting, it reinforced the spirit of the mission that President Draghi had already anticipated, which is only through the values of freedom and democracy can economic and social development be achieved”, said Bonomi, interviewed by Tg1 , in a connection from the Ukrainian capital.
He summits with Zelensky, Kuleba and Yaroslav
The visit of the president of Confindustria – who also met the foreign ministers, Dmytro Kuleba, and energy ministers, Demchenkov Yaroslav – was greeted with great satisfaction by the Ukrainian premier: “For us it is important that the Italian industry returns with strength in the Ukrainian market, the meeting was dedicated to the participation of Italian entrepreneurs in post-war reconstruction “, wrote Zelensky in a message posted on his Telegram page, with a short video where you can also see part of Bonomi’s speech:” What happened strikes us – said the number one of Italian industrialists – there is a twinning relationship ».
The Italian supply chains for the reconstruction of Ukraine
Confindustria’s initiative was taken in agreement with the Italian government. And it aims for a strong concreteness: “An agreement has been signed with the Ukrainian government – said Bonomi in the interview – where we make our supply chains available for the reconstruction of the country and we have also agreed to open an office, with a permanent delegation of Confindustria at the Italian embassy precisely to accompany Italian companies in this process of approaching Ukraine and its reconstruction ».
Zelensky: a signal for all foreign investors
The opening of the Confindustria office was greatly appreciated by Zelensky: “At this moment it is essential, it is a powerful signal for all foreign investors, the help of Confindustria to start production on Ukrainian territory, creating new jobs , is extremely important for the employment of Ukrainians who have lost their jobs due to hostilities “, said Zelensky, who in a note expressed gratitude to Italy and Prime Minister Draghi and stressed” the interest in participation of Italian companies in the reconstruction of the destroyed infrastructures and in future cooperation in the areas where the Italian side has global competences “. The country is beginning to feel a desire to react: “In Kiev, life is resuming,” said Bonomi. But unfortunately there is a fight: «Since I have been here in 24 hours we have already had two air warnings. In people’s faces we can still read fear, the desire to go back to life, but still fear ». Kuleba on Twitter spoke of «a useful meeting with the president of Confindustria Carlo Bonomi. War is a time of challenge, but also of opportunity. We will welcome other Italian companies and encourage them to explore the new opportunities that Ukraine has to offer ».
