Rebuilding Ukraine: Switzerland pours over $100M into infrastructure and housing
Photo: Swiss business helps rebuild Ukraine (Getty Images)
Swiss businesses will allocate over $100 million for the reconstruction and development of Ukraine. The projects will cover energy, infrastructure, and humanitarian demining and are set to start this fall, according to the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
According to the ministry, more than 93 million Swiss francs, or over $114 million, will be allocated to reconstruction and development projects in Ukraine under a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Swiss Confederation.
The projects will focus on energy, infrastructure, housing, healthcare, education, and humanitarian demining and are scheduled to start this fall.
Among the projects expected to be implemented, over 80% have already been submitted and are coordinated by the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine.
Their cost amounts to more than 76 million Swiss francs of the 93 million that will be allocated by the Swiss government.
These include the following projects:
- In the railway sector: the creation of an enterprise for the production of railway fastening systems in Kremenchuk to transition to the European railway gauge and the production of contact wires for railway electrification.
- In the housing sector: construction of modular homes for internally displaced persons in Vinnytsia and Sumy regions, as well as replacement of windows in damaged houses in Kharkiv and the eastern regions.
According to the ministry, these projects align with state strategies and recovery policies, focusing on the reconstruction and development of social and critical infrastructure and the improvement of housing conditions.
The projects will also be implemented in frontline regions or on de-occupied territories.
"The involvement of Swiss businesses became possible thanks to an intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Switzerland. Projects supported by businesses not only contribute to the reconstruction and development of Ukrainian infrastructure but also create new jobs and strengthen local economies," the Ministry of Development added.
Swiss assistance to Ukraine
It is worth noting that last month Switzerland decided to allocate 5 billion francs (about $6.3 billion) for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
This assistance will be provided to Ukraine over the coming years.
Previously, the Swiss company PFIFFNER-Group also pledged to deliver energy equipment to Ukraine, valued at 100,000 francs (about $126,000).
