First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko during a visit to the Business Forum for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which took place in Rotterdam, held a series of meetings with representatives of the Government and local governments of the Netherlands. The key topics of discussion were the restoration of Ukrainian territories and granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for EU membership.

During a meeting with representatives of the Association of Dutch Municipalities and its chairman, The Mayor of the Hague Jan van Zanen, the Minister of Economy discussed the participation of Dutch communities in the reconstruction of Ukraine. In particular, it was a question of working out of mechanisms of patronage by the Dutch cities or regions over the Ukrainian territories which have suffered from military operations. This will significantly accelerate Ukraine's overcoming of the consequences of the war.

An important topic of discussion was also the development of ties between Ukrainian and Dutch cities, which will be based on economic and business contacts. The Association of Municipalities of the Netherlands already has a successful experience of cooperation with the Association of Ukrainian Cities, including the implementation of joint innovative projects for spatial development.

Yulia Svyrydenko thanked the Dutch communities for the hospitable reception of 63,000 Ukrainians who were forced to seek refuge abroad. Most of them want to return home, because they left forcibly. Therefore, the Government is working to create appropriate conditions for this in Ukraine - to provide displaced persons with work, housing, and protection of life and health.

During a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Liesje Schreinemacher, the Minister of Economy of Ukraine stressed the importance of granting Ukraine the status of a candidate country for EU membership. This will play a key role in the future reconstruction of our state and determine its development strategy.

“Access of Ukrainian goods to the EU market will help compensate for the losses suffered by our trade due to the war and the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports. We are grateful to the European Union for its decision in this direction. And we expect that zero customs rates on Ukrainian goods will be maintained not only for a year, but also in the future," Yulia Svyrydenko stressed.

The one-day Business Forum for the Reconstruction of Ukraine in Rotterdam took place on June 17. The event was attended by over 250 guests from the public and business sectors of the Netherlands, foreign business, Ukrainian and Dutch associations in the fields of agro-industrial complex, energy, medicine, IT.