Investments, Industrial Parks, and Project Office: What Representatives of Vinnytsia Discussed at the URC2025 Conference in Rome

On 10-11 July, Rome hosted the Fourth International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine (URC2025). The event, which brought together leaders of states, international organisations, business representatives and local governments from more than 30 countries, was dedicated to organising global support for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Vinnytsia is among 134 Ukrainian communities presenting their projects and visions for further development to the international community.

According to Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov, such international events are not only major intergovernmental agreements, but also a platform for communities, in particular Vinnytsia, to establish direct contacts with donors and businesses, and to agree on specific support and investments.

Speakers at the conference included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and other high-ranking officials who confirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and recovery.

During the event, the Vinnytsia delegation presented the community's potential and various investment projects that will strengthen Vinnytsia's competitiveness.

‘The focus of the conference, as emphasised by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is on partners supporting our country's defence capabilities, creating a reliable recovery plan with appropriate financial resources, and attracting investment to regions and cities,’ said Vinnytsia Mayor Serhii Morhunov. 'It is critically important for us to attract foreign investment, because in wartime we are forced to direct the development budget primarily to security and defence. Therefore, we are actively seeking external support, investors and partners to maintain the momentum of urban transformation. We have a clear strategy: we present industrial parks, which are understandable to foreign businesses as a tool for entering new markets, as well as seven new infrastructure projects that can be implemented on the basis of public-private partnerships.'

URC2025 was the fourth conference on Ukraine's recovery and continued a series of high-level political events dedicated to the rapid recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine since the start of russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Among the key topics raised during the event were the process of our country's European integration, as well as issues of infrastructure development, housing, energy, climate protection, green reconstruction, culture, health care, gender issues, education, the environment, science, technology, and more.