Over 20 Japanese companies plan to attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in London next week

Representatives of more than 20 Japanese private sector firms may attend the international Ukraine Recovery Conference in London next week.

The companies will offer help to remove debris and landmines or restore infrastructure such as bridges and irrigation facilities for farming, NHK media reports. 

What is the problem?

As of February 2023, the total amount of damage caused to the infrastructure of Ukraine due to a full-scale war has increased by another $6 billion and is $143.8 billion (at replacement cost), according to the Kyiv School of Economics.

Thousands of houses, hundreds of schools and kindergartens, and medical institutions were destroyed. Reconstruction or restoration require extremely large funds.

What is the solution?

The United Kingdom and Ukraine will hold the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023 in London on June 21-22.

Representatives of more than 20 Japanese private and public companies are planning to take part in the conference.

Most of them represent the construction and medical sectors. They were recommended by the Japanese government or invited by the governments of Great Britain and Ukraine.

How does it work?

Medical firms hope to provide remote healthcare services to cope with shortages of medical staff in Ukraine. Final arrangements are said to be ongoing.

Besides private companies, four government-backed organizations are also said to be considering attendance. They include the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Arrangements are underway for Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa to participate.

The conference will focus on mobilizing international support for the economic and social stabilization of Ukraine and the subsequent recovery from the consequences of the war, including through emergency aid for immediate needs and funding for the participation of the private sector in the recovery process.