According to the official page of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, Olga Zykova, Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine, met with representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD): the Regional Director for European Enlargement and Neighbourhood Mathieu Vasseur, and the Head of the AFD Office in Ukraine Axelle Nos.
The parties reviewed the agency’s current portfolio in Ukraine and priorities for further financing. Olga Zykova expressed gratitude to AFD for supporting the restoration of critically important sectors of the Ukrainian economy, particularly for projects aimed at municipal development.
Currently, AFD is focused on supporting projects for municipal and state-owned enterprises’ development, providing technical assistance, and plans to increase support to the private sector. The key sectors of activity include: health care, water supply, urban mobility, housing and utilities, energy, and transport.
The agency has already initiated dialog with ten Ukrainian cities to structure critically important projects, among them – improvement of water supply systems, modernization of medical facilities for rehabilitation and mental health, urban mobility, etc.
AFD also intends to focus its support on the financial sector – in particular involving state banks – to channel investments to municipalities and local authorities.
Despite the challenges caused by the war, Ukrainian municipalities continue working to strengthen their financial capacity. Today, as the need for additional resources grows, it is especially important to open up new financing opportunities. Cooperation with AFD paves the way for easier access of Ukrainian cities to the resources needed for their restoration and modernization. We appreciate the support of our French partners and are committed to further expanding our cooperation.
Said Olga Zykova.
Additionally, the parties exchanged views on coordinating AFD’s efforts with other international financial institutions – notably the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which are already implementing support and recovery projects in Ukraine.
The Representation of the French Development Agency began its work in Ukraine in 2024. To facilitate the activities of the Representation, an agreement was concluded between the Governments of Ukraine and France. Currently, 10 national and 3 regional projects are being implemented with a total cost of over EUR 45 million across 6 economic sectors. In 2024-2027, AFD plans to implement projects in Ukraine for a total amount of EUR 450 million – including EUR 50 million in grants and EUR 400 million in loan funds.
