The online Investment Map created by the European Business Association (EBA) is an excellent working tool to guide international investments and corporate participations. It shows projects ready for foreign partners in all Ukrainian regions. Among them, Odessa is one of the most attractive regions for investors in the context of Ukraine’s post-war recovery. We asked Kateryna Morozova, head of EBA Southern Ukraine, for more details on how this Investment Map was built.
What are the projects listed in the map? Are they proposals awaiting financing or industrial partners, or are they works already underway?
The Investment Map of Ukraine, created by the EBA in cooperation with Ukraine Invest and Global Business for Ukraine, currently features 188 investment-ready projects with a total value of about $6 billion – both from businesses and local authorities. These are not just concepts, but real cases with developed business plans, implementation stages, estimated financing, and engaged partners. Approx. 5% of the projects have already received funding and are at the implementation stage.
We update the information on the projects presented on the Investment Map regularly to reflect their current status, level of readiness for implementation, and actual financing needs. This allows investors to have the most complete and reliable picture, while local authorities can effectively plan support and promote the sustainable development of business initiatives.
Thus, the map is a living tool that shows ideas ready for investment as well as those already being implemented.
How were these projects identified in the area? Is there a feasibility criterion in the selection? Is there a risk that they are proposals by the public administration without real implementation?
All projects presented on the Investment Map of Ukraine undergo a multi-level evaluation. This ensures that the map is not just a list of ideas, but a tool for working with real, investment-attractive initiatives.
The first stage involves the submission of an application by local authorities, businesses, or partner organizations. The application must include:
• a clear business plan or project documentation;
• a preliminary budget estimate;
• information on funding sources (own funds, loans, grants);
• defined objectives, expected outcomes, timeline, and implementation readiness.
The second stage involves selection based on readiness criteria set by the platform administrators (EBA, UkraineInvest, GB4U). These criteria include:
• availability of preliminary technical or engineering justification;
• potential for scaling;
• compliance with international ESG standards (environmental, social, governance);
• transparency of property or land ownership for project implementation.
Thus, the Investment Map is not a platform for wishful thinking, but a carefully designed tool for attracting international capital, based on real and verified data.
The Odessa region is number one for projects listed with a number of 67, and a value of $ 28 million (the second is Dnipro with 39). How do you explain this primacy?
As of today, Odessa region demonstrates the highest concentration of investment projects among all regions of Ukraine, according to the Investment Map — 67 projects with a total value of over $28 million. This is driven by a combination of geographic, economic, infrastructural, and political factors that create an very favourable environment for business and investment, even during wartime.
1. Strong logistics and port infrastructure
Odessa is Ukraine’s maritime gateway. Even after the full-scale invasion began, the Odessa, Pivdennyi (Yuzhniy), Chornomorsk ports, and the Danube river ports (Izmail, Reni) have remained active and strategically important. Following the blockade of seaports in 2022–2023, a major shift toward Danube logistics took place, spurring infrastructure investments into ports, rail connections, and transshipment terminals — including private initiatives.
2. Geographic advantage
The region borders European countries (Romania and Moldova) and has access to the Black Sea. This promotes cross-border cooperation, access to EU funding (e.g. Interreg, EU4Business), and gives a competitive edge to projects aimed at exports or regional hub development.
3. Active engagement of the EBA Odesa Office and strong stakeholder coordination
A key factor behind the high number of investment-ready projects in the Odessa region is the active involvement of the European Business Association’s Office in Odessa. The team plays a crucial role in identifying opportunities, gathering input from businesses, maintaining regular dialogue with local authorities and communities, and facilitating cooperation with potential investors.
This ongoing coordination between key stakeholders — business, local government, territorial communities, and international partners — has created a dynamic environment for initiating and advancing investment projects, even under wartime conditions.
In summary: Odessa region has become a leader in the number of investment projects due to its unique combination of factors: access to the sea and EU borders, strong transport and logistics potential, robust infrastructure, open and business-friendly local authorities, a highly developed IT and creative economy, as well as active sectors in agriculture, energy, and tourism.
What are the sectors where it is already possible to start working, without waiting for the end of the war?
Despite the ongoing war, Ukraine retains strong investment potential across a number of sectors that have shown high adaptability to challenges and continue to receive support from international partners. Some industries have not only remained viable, but have become key drivers of economic recovery and private capital attraction.
1. Information technology and digital services
Digital businesses — particularly in logistics, cybersecurity, education, and healthcare — continue to grow steadily thanks to flexible remote work models. Companies in this sector successfully operate in international markets regardless of physical location.
2. Logistics, transport, and infrastructure
Road and rail connections with EU countries (including access to ports in Romania, Moldova, and Poland) are actively expanding. The government and international donors (including the EBRD and World Bank) are investing in the reconstruction of roads, customs checkpoints, terminals, and logistics hubs. The private sector is also launching new warehouses, trans-shipment centres, and customs terminals.
3. Agribusiness and food processing
Despite logistical difficulties, agriculture remains one of the most profitable sectors. Localized value-added chains — including drying, freezing, packaging, and storage — are especially promising. Interest is also growing in organic production, niche crops, and agricultural innovations (AgTech).
4. Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Despite the war, projects involving the installation of solar and bioenergy systems remain active in safer regions. Following attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, companies and communities are increasingly transitioning to autonomous energy solutions — including solar panels, battery systems, and heat pumps.
5. Domestic tourism and the green economy
Traditional tourism has been severely affected, but domestic eco- and agro-tourism is developing in safe regions, with growing demand for guesthouses, farms, and local travel routes.
Efforts to restore cultural and historical heritage are also supported, opening up investment opportunities in museums, cultural routes, and hotel infrastructure.
In summary: despite the war, Ukraine remains attractive for strategic investment in sectors that have adapted to risk and require capital for growth. These areas — technology, logistics, agriculture, renewable energy, and tourism — are forming the foundation for the country’s sustainable economic recovery and modernization.
What is the role played by local institutions to make projects sustainable and protect them from political interference and bad administration?
In the Odessa region, local institutions — the Odesa Regional Military Administration (ORMA), the Odesa Regional State Administration (ORSA), and the City Council — are actively working to create a favourable investment climate and support business. Regular meetings are held between government representatives and the business community to discuss current issues of city and regional development as well as opportunities to overcome challenges. For example, the Odesa City Council invites entrepreneurs to sessions where the following key topics are discussed:
- Implementation of the Target Program to enhance the competitiveness of Odessa’s economy for 2022–2027;
- Updating the Strategy for the Development of the City Territorial Community; Introduction of digital services for business;
Odesa Regional Military Administration supports entrepreneurs on the issues of:
- Support for businesses regarding the reservation of employees for military service;
- Measures to reduce workplace injuries and improve occupational safety;
- Creating conditions to simplify administrative procedures and reduce bureaucratic barriers.
What service does the EBA Southern Ukraine branch offer to welcome international investors to the local market?
The EBA Southern Ukrainian Office was established in 2004 in response to interest from businesses operating in the Odesa Region in the EBA activities. Today Office covers Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. EBA key services for international investors are:
- Advocacy. The Office provides collective and individual protection of the legal rights and interests of member companies in government authorities, improving business conditions, informing about processes and legislative initiatives. Within the EBA Southern Ukrainian Office, there are 8 open committees, more details at this link. Moreover, regular meetings with representatives of local authorities are held, where issues of small and medium business development, strategies for community development, and mechanisms for attracting investment are discussed.
- Events. EBA members have exclusive access to events (https://eba.com.ua/zahody/) where they have the opportunity to meet other members of the Association and exchange experiences in the field of business development. The EBA Odesa regularly organizes online and offline events: - regular meetings with representatives of state and local authorities, embassies, and international organizations; - meetings of member company directors involving international organizations and experts; - networking events for developing business relationships among members of our community; - social and sports events for better interaction among employees of companies, as well as for acquiring new valuable contacts; - online B2B introductions between member companies.
- Opportunities for promoting one's own brand. Companies are provided with opportunities on the resources of the Association (publication of the company profile, placement of content in the form of articles and news of the company, interviews, analytics on the EBA website, informational support of events). Companies are also given the chance for B2B introductions with other Association members.
- Regular EBA researches. The EBA is all about identifying trends and the nearing changes. Therefore, we conduct a range of surveys that explore the current condition of the business environment in Ukraine and look at it from different angles. We get regular feedback from business within 10 surveys: Investment Attractiveness Index, Customs Index, Tax Index, Court Index, Infrastructure Index, Business at War, Small Business Index, Happiness Barometer, Business Forecast. Doing business in regions is a survey held in regions were EBA Offices operate (Odessa, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv). Based on the research results, we can have a bigger well-founded picture of success and failures in the business environment in Ukraine, which we share happily with government authorities, companies, media, and the public. Besides, recently EBA has developed support measures for businesses in frontline regions. EBA has analysed the key challenges faced by businesses operating in frontline regions and developed proposals to support enterprises in these areas. Businesses in these regions require greater attention and assistance to continue their operations. To address this, EBA experts have formulated a set of recommendations aimed at supporting companies, stabilizing the business environment, and creating conditions for recovery. These recommendations are intended for central and local authorities, donors, international organizations and governments, banks, and financial institutions. More details here.
How has the way of working of your EBA branch changed under the pressure of the conflict, these 3 years?
Over the past three years, despite the challenges caused by the full-scale war, the EBA Odesa has not only maintained operational capacity, but also strengthened its role as a key partner for business in the Southern region, expanding our areas of work, services, engagement in national processes shaping the business environment in Ukraine. The Southern Ukrainian Office of the EBA is not just a regional structure, but a functional platform for business that:
- Provides practical support to companies in the Odessa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions, including legal assistance and crisis response facilitation;
- Represents companies’ interests in dialogue with authorities, including participation in working groups, legislative initiatives, and coordination platforms;
- Initiates business engagement in infrastructure recovery and regional development programs;
- Acts as a bridge between local businesses and international donors and financial institutions;
- Fosters a stable economic environment through analytics, advocacy, and the development of business networks.
Our goal is not a declarative support of business, but real influence on the decisions that define the conditions for doing business in the Southern Ukraine.
