Ukraine wants to partner with the US on maritime projects

By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas & Pacific Correspondent

KYIV — Ukrinform reports that Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy is open to a potential swath of projects to bolster maritime sector cooperation between his country and the United States government.

“We are open to investors and the implementation of promising investment projects in the maritime industry in cooperation with American business and are happy to invite you to invest in Ukraine,” Krykily said during a webinar hosted by the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine.

He also described the Infrastructure Ministry’s efforts to expand the maritime sector value chain’s domestic capacity.

These projects include concession expansions for the ports at Olvia and Kherson.

Krykily added that the industry expansion is a crucial effort for their national security.

“We are currently in the process of preparing concession projects in the seaports of Berdiansk, Izmail, and Mariupol.”

We are also preparing a project of the concession for a passenger terminal in the Odesa Sea Port, the concession of a railway and ferry complex and a container terminal in the Black Sea port,” he said.

The virtual event was attended by US Chargé d’Affaires for Ukraine Kristina Kvien and US Deputy Secretary of State for Trade Policy David de Falco.

Also in attendance were other representatives from the US Embassy in Kyiv, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the US International Development Finance Corporation, and the US Export-Import Bank.

Private companies from the US and Ukraine were also in attendance.