German companies are already preparing for significant investments in Ukraine following the war’s end, according to the East Committee of German Industry.
Speaking to the press, Michael Harms, the committee’s managing director, noted a growing interest among new investors who are betting on strong post-conflict growth and are already laying the groundwork today.
A major stimulus for this development is the expected integration of Ukraine into the European single market and the adoption of EU standards. Harms emphasized that the EU legal framework is acting as a crucial reform anchor within the country. He stated that the rapid adoption of EU rules is already improving the investment climate, making this standardization process valuable in itself for the economy. However, the Federal Government estimates that Ukraine’s full accession to the EU will still take several years.
The industrial association advocates for Ukraine to be included more closely in certain areas much sooner, such as access to the European single market or integration into European infrastructure networks. According to Harms, such proximity would create “planning certainty for companies and facilitate long-term investment decisions”.
For these investments to gain further momentum, existing hurdles must be quickly eliminated. These include restricted insurability, funding gaps, and regulatory uncertainties. Harms stressed the need for expanded state guarantees, transparent bidding procedures, and continued progress in the rule of law and anti-corruption efforts.
