Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Oksana Osmachko discussed further ways to develop cooperation between Ukraine and Finland with Janne Hardjunpaa, CEO of East Office of Finnish Industries, and Wanda Zamitskaia-Bergendahl, CEO of Hesburger Ukraine.
The meeting included heads of structural units of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food and a representative of the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
The parties discussed ways to deepen cooperation between Ukraine and Finland in the field of agricultural processing. Oksana Osmachko thanked representatives of Finnish business for continuing to work despite the war, seeking new opportunities, expanding capacities, and investing in Ukraine.
“We are glad to see that foreign companies, despite all the challenges of wartime, continue operating in Ukraine, preserve their workforce, and provide Ukrainians with quality products. Moreover, they develop their business, build new enterprises, and open new production lines,” said the Deputy Minister.
Finnish companies continue to see Ukraine as a promising partner. They not only maintain a presence in the Ukrainian market but also see potential for further business development. Such resilience and trust send an important signal to the international business community and confirm the economic viability of our country.
East Office of Finnish Industries is the official representation of Finnish business, acting as a coordination platform for leading Finnish companies to promote their interests, develop business relations, and create a favorable environment for investment and commercial activity.
Key members of East Office include well-known companies such as Kone, Wärtsilä, Fortum, Neste, Outokumpu, Valmet, Orion, Tikkurila, Metso, and other major players in the Finnish economy. The total annual turnover of all member companies is about €50 billion.
Since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022, East Office has intensified efforts to support Ukraine’s economic resilience, involving Finnish companies in projects to rebuild critical infrastructure, restore energy capacities, and modernize the industrial sector.
Hesburger is a Finnish family fast-food chain founded in 1966. As of 2025, it operates over 480 restaurants in nine countries, including Ukraine, where it currently runs seven outlets in Kyiv and Kyiv region. The Ukrainian branch employs about 75 people.
In March 2025, Hesburger invested €7.3 million to open a production and storage facility near Kyiv for making cutlets and storing products. The facility’s capacity is up to 6 tons of meat per day, with an expected volume servicing up to 50 restaurants. Ten new jobs were created. This initiative became the first Finnish industrial investment in Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war.
Hesburger Ukraine also plans to invest over €12 million to open at least 10 new restaurants in western regions of Ukraine over the next five years.
The interest of Finnish partners confirms trust in Ukraine as a stable partner and an attractive market. Deepening cooperation opens new opportunities for investment and development of processing infrastructure in agriculture. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine will continue to actively engage in dialogue with international partners to unlock the full potential of the agricultural sector.
