Ukraine needs new refineries, chemical plants and granaries, ex-President Yushchenko says at Mind Invest Summit
The 3rd President of Ukraine pointed out that the lack of grain storage capacities makes tens of millions of tonnes
Ukraine faces a shortage of enterprises in various sectors of the economy, including oil refineries and agricultural processing plants.
Viktor Yushchenko, the 3rd President of Ukraine, said this as he opened the two-day Mind Invest Summit in Lviv.
"Today, Ukraine needs to build two refineries. There were 5 grain processing plants in Ukraine, and none of them are operating today. Ukraine needs fertilisers the most in Europe: there is not a single fertiliser plant, nor are there any supplies of these products," he said.
Mr. Yushchenko stressed that Ukraine has unique opportunities, as 500 million people consume Ukrainian bread, and that the global market cannot live without Ukrainian grain.
That said, Yushchenko added, there are not enough grain elevators in Ukraine, "most of the grain is stored in bulk, and our river infrastructure is almost inoperable."
The third president also pointed to the need to improve the organisation of agricultural exports, as the current procedure for supplying grain abroad "creates big problems for farmers". Yushchenko noted that 40 per cent of Ukrainian farmers are "ready to adopt changes should favourable conditions be created".
Another area of development, he continued, is the possible partial development of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, where renewable energy generation facilities could be built. In his opinion, this will help reanimate 4 per cent of Ukrainian land. Investors express interest in this, the third president said.
Mr. Yushchenko also called for the return of Ukrainian refugees to Ukraine. "Labour and intellectual knowledge are irreplaceable. Ukraine must fight for the return of Ukrainians home," Yushchenko said. In his words, Ukraine "has enough human potential without migrants".
Background. It was reported that Mind Invest Summit 2024 is happening in Lviv on 28-29 June. The event is organised for parties that invest or have interest in doing so in Ukraine.
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