On July 11, 2025, the Policy & Recovery team of the Business Ombudsman Council of Ukraine, in partnership with the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs (SUP), organized a discussion in Rome titled “Partners in Progress: Ukraine’s Private Sector Response.” The event served as a reflection and continuation of the dialogue initiated at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) 2025 on the role of the private sector in Ukraine’s recovery.
In his opening remarks, Roman Waschuk, Business Ombudsman of Ukraine, emphasized the key message that shaped the entire discussion: “Business must not be left alone in times of war. Predictability, transparent rules, and respect for its role in the reconstruction are essential.”
The event featured a balanced spectrum of voices from powerful business associations and individual enterprises. Thought leaders from Ukrainian business (Kateryna Glazkova, SUP), European associations (Luisa Santos, Business Europe; Andrzej Rudka, Konfederacja Lewiatan; Artūras Žarnovskis, Future of Ukraine and European Peace Facility programme; Jim Weiss, Samsung), and the American private sector (Irina Paliashvili, Eric Luhmann, Greg Fishman, USUBC) emphasized the need for clear rules of the game, entrepreneurs’ social responsibility, and the importance of direct communication with international partners.
Participants gained access to expertise from leading international financial institutions, including EBRD and IFC, represented at a high level by Barbara Rambousek, Irina Kravchenko, and Lisa Kaestner. They highlighted already implemented investments and announced ambitious plans and agreements signed during URC2025. A particular focus was placed on preserving and supporting human capital as a prerequisite for sustainable economic growth. One of the most prominent outcomes of URC2025 was the signing of the Human Capital Resilience Charter (HCR) (as noted by Barbara Rambousek).
Further discussions covered tools to support municipalities, logistics, and agro-infrastructure, along with the principles of the “green” transition. Both EBRD and IFC reaffirmed their strategic commitment to Ukraine, continuing to invest even during wartime, while prioritizing key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, human capital, and institutional strengthening (as highlighted by Irina Kravchenko and Lisa Kaestner).
International companies recognized the potential of Ukraine’s economy and workforce, expressing keen interest in transformative projects — contingent upon lasting security, a stable regulatory environment, and predictable public policy aligned with the adaptation of European norms and standards.
Tetiana Korotka, Deputy Business Ombudsman of Ukraine, emphasized the need for structural reforms and tactical decisions that would enable the government to prepare sustainable and bankable recovery projects — engaging private business both as advisors and implementers, and fostering new development opportunities for the private sector.
The event in Rome became an effective platform for strategic dialogue among the private sector, government, and international partners. It enabled the Business Ombudsman Council, in partnership with SUP, USUBC, and EBA, to define yet another space for international business engagement. The discussions reaffirmed a shared readiness to take action — advancing reforms, strengthening institutional capacity, and creating a stable investment climate.
