On November 18, a working meeting took place with the participation of Igor Klymenko, Head of the State Agency of Ukraine for Melioration, Fisheries, and Food Programs, and representatives of the French companies Dexpert and Piriou. The main goal of the dialogue was to discuss ways of cooperating on the restoration of Ukraine’s inspection and patrol fleet, which suffered losses due to Russia’s armed aggression.
“During Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian fleet in the Sea of Azov was completely destroyed, and partially in the Black Sea. The vessels that were preserved are currently insufficient for effective performance of fisheries control and water bioresource protection functions,” emphasized Igor Klymenko.
The French side expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, noting their courage and resilience. The partners stressed that they came to find effective solutions and provide tangible support to Ukrainian state authorities and fishermen.
Representatives of the French companies also presented options for supplying modern patrol vessels designed to operate in challenging maritime conditions. According to them, the proposed vessels are highly maneuverable, structurally reliable, storm-resistant, and have a long operational lifespan.
Special attention during the meeting was given to the strategic issue of potentially localizing ship production in Ukraine. Igor Klymenko emphasized that Ukraine has strong engineering potential and highly skilled specialists capable of implementing such projects.
At the same time, the French partners expressed preliminary interest in possibly restoring the Ukrainian fleet through foreign investments and proposed organizing internships for Ukrainian specialists at production facilities in France to exchange experience and implement advanced technologies.
As a result of the meeting, both sides agreed on a series of practical steps to develop the partnership. It was agreed that the State Agency would work out the necessary technical and procedural aspects, after which the stage of coordinating and signing a Memorandum of Cooperation will begin.
