The LITIKO team took part in the landmark event Global Outlook: Enduring Change, which took place in Kyiv. The event brought together about 150 business leaders, government representatives, and experts who discussed key issues in the economy, energy, innovation, and challenges for Ukraine. The atmosphere of the event was cozy, informal, and even behind-the-scenes, which facilitated open discussions.
Main Speeches:
Herman Halushchenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine, emphasized that the future of Ukraine’s energy sector lies in the development of nuclear energy. He spoke about cooperation with Westinghouse Electric in the production and storage of nuclear fuel, which will be used not only in Ukraine but also in European nuclear power plants seeking to abandon Russian fuel.
Quote from the minister: “Ukraine is the energy hub of future Europe, which will be realized by 200%!”
Andriy Pyshny, Head of the NBU, emphasized the stability of the country’s financial system. By the end of 2024, the gold and foreign exchange reserves exceeded $40 billion, and $38 billion in international support is planned for 2025. An important initiative is the legislative establishment of insurance for military risks for investments, which should facilitate the attraction of capital to Ukraine.
His words: “Believe in the best, prepare for the worst” resonated widely.
Tetiana Lukinyuk, General Director of Google Ukraine, spoke about the development of artificial intelligence (AI). She noted that Ukraine ranks among the top three countries in Europe in terms of the number of specialists in this field (over 200,000). Today, the leaders in AI implementation are developing countries, particularly Chile, Mexico, and Nigeria.
Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar, presented plans for the technical modernization of telecommunications infrastructure. The company will invest in network development, particularly in ensuring connectivity even during blackouts for up to 6 hours. Active attraction of foreign investments is also planned.
Oleksii Dubrevskyi, General Director of Boryspil Airport, assured that the airport is fully technically ready to resume full operations within 2 weeks after receiving the appropriate regulatory approval.
Yurii Atanasov, CEO of Centravis Production Ukraine, shared real-life business experiences in challenging conditions. He emphasized the need for flexible rules for reserving employees in combat zones and outlined the issues with VAT refunds that complicate the functioning of enterprises.
Alessandro Zanelli, CEO of Nestlé in Ukraine and Southeast Europe, discussed the needs of the FMCG sector. He expects at least a five percent increase in consumption volumes in 2025 but also predicts rising inflation. In 2025, the company plans to invest about 9.5 billion UAH in product promotion and innovations at existing factories, as well as open a new, fourth factory in Ukraine.
Impressions from the Event
We note the high level of organization of the event, although the absence of badges for guests created some inconveniences. The event demonstrated the readiness of business, government, and the expert community to cooperate for the common development of the country.
For LITIKO, it was a valuable opportunity to join the discussions and hear the most relevant forecasts regarding the economy, energy, and innovations. We thank the organizers for the opportunity to be part of this event!