Lithuania to set up body to coordinate Ukraine reconstruction efforts

2022-08-20
BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – The Lithuanian government will help businesses ready to take part in rebuilding war-ravaged Ukraine, with a new body to be set up to coordinate reconstruction works, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the governmental Economic Diplomacy Council, which discussed Lithuania's contribution to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.

Government Chancellor Giedre Balcytyte said during the meeting that the government is ready to assist Lithuanian businesses planning to participate in rebuilding projects.

For that purpose, a coordinating public sector body is planned to be set up to mobilize the potential capacities and resources, the ministry said in a press release.

"Lithuania is one of Ukraine's staunchest friends and allies, so the issue of Ukraine's reconstruction is of paramount importance to Lithuania," said Landsbergis.

"We hope that through joint efforts of the state and businesses we will be able to contribute to Ukraine's reconstruction projects, which will be the largest in Europe after World War II," he added.

The chancellor outlined Ukraine's short and long-term reconstruction priorities and opportunities for international partnerships, noting that Lithuania's greatest opportunities are in the fields of energy, water management, construction, food industry, and business and investment environment improvement, according to the press release.

In early July, Lithuania provided 10 million euros to the National Bank of Ukraine for urgent reconstruction works.

President Gitanas Nauseda has also said that Lithuania must help rebuild Ukraine, calling it his "personal commitment".

The Ukrainian prime minister said in July that it would cost at least 750 billion US dollars to rebuild his country.

The European Commission is working on a recovery plan for Ukraine, but various aid projects for the war-torn country are also likely to be carried out by individual EU member countries.