Ukraine and the Republic of Korea are shifting to the practical stage of cooperation in recovery and infrastructure modernization. The parties are preparing to launch a special task force, which is to become a tool for joint project coordination, preparation, and implementation.

The initiative is a continuation of agreements previously reached on the international level and is aimed at engaging Korean technologies, investments, and businesses in the Ukraine recovery process.

Focus on infrastructure and housing

Today, a number of joint projects are already being implemented with the support of the Korean Government in the following basic areas:

• restoration of the housing sector and social infrastructure;
• development of railway and aviation infrastructure;
• modernization of sewerage systems;
• implementing energy-efficient solutions.

It is expected that this project portfolio will be further expanded and more Korean companies will contribute to the reconstruction.

From coordination to delivery

Forming the joint task force means a transition from political agreements to practical work in projects. It is about making a mechanism that will enable to coordinate actions of different participants, speed up project preparation, and ensure their delivery.

In parallel, public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms are developing and conditions to place manufacturing in Ukraine are being created. This will foster the implementation of recovery projects aw well as integration of foreign businesses in the long-term economic development.

A separate attention is given to the development of vocational education. In particular, with the support of the Korean side, a modern training center is being established for construction equipment operators, which should be a response to the staff shortage in the industry.

This line highlights that reconstruction needs not only funding and technologies but also a comprehensive training of specialists.

ICEG has many years of cooperation with Korean professional association KENCA. Notably, the parties have fulfilled together such joint initiatives as covered in the material about feasibility study preparation for high-speed railway construction. Such an interaction forms a foundation for expanding the practical cooperation between Ukrainian and Korean companies during the recovery projects implementation.