First Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, Aliona Shkrum, is on an official visit to Japan, where she has held more than ten meetings with representatives of the Japanese government, agencies, and businesses. One of the key meetings was with the leadership of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) — Ukraine’s main partners in the field of recovery.
The discussions focused on expanding joint projects and new assistance, including energy equipment, pumps, and machinery for regions affected by Russian attacks.
“Today, twelve Japanese companies are already operating in Ukraine — they are helping to rebuild infrastructure, supplying equipment, and supporting our communities. This is more than cooperation; it is a genuine partnership based on trust and respect,” Shkrum emphasized.
The Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development coordinates four phases of the Emergency Recovery Programme implemented by JICA, with total support amounting to USD 700 million. The programme covers energy, transport, healthcare, education, water supply, waste management, and humanitarian demining.
The Ukrainian side has also initiated expanding the programme to new regions — Sumy, Chernihiv, and Zaporizhzhia — and requested additional energy equipment for Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Odessa, and Kyiv.
During her visit, Aliona Shkrum also met with the leadership of Japan’s Reconstruction Agency — an institution created after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and Fukushima disaster. The parties agreed to continue cooperation, exchange experience, and adapt Japan’s recovery model to Ukrainian realities.
As Shkrum noted, Japan is an example of a nation that was able to rebuild after total devastation.
“We want to create our own — an effective Ukrainian recovery system. We have 11 frontline regions that require special attention. I believe that together with our Japanese partners, we can achieve this. Six years after the war, Japan began its economic miracle — and 25 years later, it became the world’s second-largest economy. Ukraine can do the same. We have the strength, the partners, and the faith,” she said.
