PR_MCInfo Sessions about the REBIRTH OF UKRAINE Trade Mission to Denmark and Sweden
On September 11, 2025, the first Info Session dedicated to the upcoming REBIRTH OF UKRAINE Trade Mission to Denmark and Sweden took place. The mission will be held on October 26-29 in Copenhagen, Denmark, and October 29-31 in Stockholm, Sweden. The event gathered representatives of Ukrainian communities, businesses, associations, as well as the organizers of this strategic trip – Economy of Trust Ukraine (EoTU) and SWECO. This interactive format allowed participants to connect local needs with global opportunities and laid the groundwork for future joint projects.
At the opening of the session, Yuliya Chufistova, Director of UMEDA and Member of the Presidium of the Mayors’ Club, emphasized that the purpose of the trade mission is not only to help communities attract foreign investments to meet urgent local needs but also to foster sustainable partnerships that contribute to Ukraine’s effective economic recovery. She also highlighted past events that strengthened the platform for international cooperation, including trade missions to Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Henry Shterenberg, Founder and CEO of Economy of Trust Ukraine, stressed that trade missions serve as a cooperation tool for government structures, local authorities, and businesses, helping balance these complex systems for the improvement of people’s quality of life. He noted that Ukraine is currently transitioning from a centralized planned economy to a market-based one, and the main challenge is establishing effective connections between administration, business, and society. Trade missions, therefore, act as a comprehensive mechanism for creating partnerships based on joint project implementation.
Members of the EoTU Advisory Board highlighted that the upcoming mission to Scandinavia will be a crucial step in strengthening partnerships between Ukrainian communities/businesses and the international community. Eva-Lotta Sjostedt, Chairwoman of the EoTU Advisory Board, underlined that years of cooperation with Ukrainian communities proved the resilience of long-term partnerships even under difficult conditions. Mirjana Dimc Perko focused on investment opportunities in Ukraine, particularly the development of industrial parks, which are highly attractive to international capital. Lars Groenkjaer pointed to the potential of innovation and AI development, stressing that Ukraine could become a regional hub for AI technologies. Lars Petersson emphasized the energy sector as a key driver of Ukraine’s rapid recovery and international cooperation.
From SWECO, one of the mission’s co-organizers, Lasse Rajala, Director of International Operations at Sweco Finland, and Kari Nöjd, Project Manager at Sweco Finland, presented the company’s expertise. SWECO, a leading European engineering company with 22,000 experts, 150,000 completed projects, and offices in 15 countries, specializes in architecture, urban development, innovative water and energy systems, and transport infrastructure. They stressed their willingness to share their experience, particularly in industrial park development, and expressed strong motivation to support Ukraine’s recovery, drawing from their own history of facing regional challenges.
A key part of the info session was dedicated to presentations from Ukrainian communities, including members of the upcoming Ukrainian delegation:
- Vitalii Karabanov, Head of the Balakliya Community, described the challenges of rebuilding critical infrastructure, optimizing public and social services, restoring businesses, and creating conditions for people’s return after long-term occupation.
- Artsyz Community showcased its competitive advantages – strategic location, access to seven seaports, railway infrastructure, and strong energy networks. They presented two investment projects: a multimodal logistics hub on the site of a former airfield, and an agro-industrial park for agricultural processing.
- Novyi Buh Community focused on urgent water supply issues and presented large-scale water network reconstruction projects, alongside school modernization and a waste recycling plant. Mayor Maksym Lahodiienko stressed that their main goal is to provide decent living conditions to prevent outmigration.
- Pavlo Nalyvaiko, Head of MEGAWATT LLC and Member of the Ukrainian Water Association, underlined that quality water supply is a cornerstone of community recovery. Together with SWECO, feasibility studies have already been prepared for more than 30 towns in southern Ukraine.
- Oleksii Shetsko, Director of SP KBT, presented multifunctional Danish-made Egholm machines that reduce manual labor in municipalities. He also shared successful cases of collaboration with Danish funds providing grants for municipal equipment.
- Yaroslav Kryll, CEO of Hydrogen Ukraine and Board Member of the Ukrainian Hydrogen Council, presented Ukraine’s green hydrogen energy vision. With its strong gas transit system and proximity to the EU market, Ukraine is already part of the Central European Hydrogen Corridor, positioning itself as a strategic partner in hydrogen exports and industrial applications.