Turkey, Ukraine forge reconstruction partnership
Turkey and Ukraine have forged an agreement enabling Turkish construction firms to assist in rebuilding Ukraine's infrastructure, which suffered damage during Russia's invasion, as announced on Wednesday.
Positioned at the crossroads of the Black Sea, sharing maritime borders with both Ukraine and Russia, Turkey maintains strong relations with each country. As a NATO member, it has facilitated a deal under the aegis of the United Nations for the secure exportation of grain across the Black Sea, simultaneously denouncing Russia's incursion and the Western sanctions imposed on Moscow.
During a meeting in Istanbul, Omer Bolat, the Turkish Trade Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the Transport Minister, and Oleksandr Kubrakov, the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure, established the "Turkish-Ukrainian Reconstruction Task Force" through a signed agreement. This initiative outlines the cooperative framework for Turkey's involvement in Ukraine's rebuilding efforts. Bolat highlighted the agreement's significance as a legal cornerstone for Ukraine's reconstruction and expressed openness to collaboration with additional countries.
Kubrakov identified housing and transportation, including roads, bridges, railways, and water transport infrastructure, as critical sectors requiring urgent reconstruction. He is optimistic that these reconstruction efforts will also enhance bilateral trade between the two nations.
A source from the Turkish industry, involved in the discussions, expressed the eagerness of Turkish contractors to participate in the reconstruction of all sectors of Ukrainian infrastructure, emphasizing the strategic importance of attracting foreign investment for these projects.
