Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at almost 600 billion US dollars over the next decade, and Romania wants to contribute as a long-term partner through projects that create value on both sides of the border, Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare said on Thursday at an event dedicated to the reconstruction of the neighbouring country.

'Ukraine's reconstruction is already under way. In Gdansk, in June, 160 agreements worth more than 10 billion euros were signed. Power grids, roads, bridges and homes are being rebuilt while Russian attacks continue. The latest joint assessment, prepared by the Government of Ukraine, the World Bank, the European Commission and the United Nations, puts Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction needs at almost 600 billion US dollars over the next decade. Behind this figure are communities in need of essential services and businesses that need to resume production. Romania remains firmly committed to Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and European future. A stable and prosperous Ukraine, anchored in the European Union, is a direct, strategic interest of Romania. We want to contribute as a long-term partner with projects that create value on both sides of the border,' the minister said.

Nazare noted that Romania has three competitive advantages in this process: connectivity, energy and business relations.

'Romania enters this process with three competitive advantages. The first is connectivity, geography, our shared border, the Port of Constanta and its Danube ports make Romania a natural gateway to Ukraine, particularly to its southern regions. Through the Solidarity Lanes, these connections have helped maintain Ukraine's trade moving. We should build on this experience with better border crossing points, roads and railway links, as well as strengthening co-ordination between ports on the Lower Danube,' Nazare said.

'Regarding the second advantage, the Finance Minister said that Romania's production capacity and Ukraine's storage capacity offered opportunities for co-operation.
certainly grow. Romania's production capacity and Ukraine's storage capacity offer opportunities for co-operation, alongside electricity interconnections and investment in more resilient energy networks.

'The third advantage is business ties, and I believe this is the most important one: the experience of European integration, which, in my view, is invaluable within the triangle you are discussing here - Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Romanian companies know the region and have practical experience in applying EU standards, public procurement and the implementation of internationally funded projects. Partnerships with Ukrainian firms that can bring their experience in areas such as construction, logistics and energy, while also building local capacity,' he said.

The Finance Minister also addressed how these projects could be financed, initially through Exim Banca Romaneasca.

'To turn these advantages into contracts, companies need financing and a clear allocation of risks. This gives the Ministry of Finance a practical role on several levels. The first is Exim Banca Romaneasca, Romania's export credit agency. The economic recovery package adopted in February last year provides for up to 1 billion lei, roughly 200 million euros, for the 2026-2029 period, to strengthen Exim's support for exports, international transactions and Romanian investment abroad. The aim is to provide our companies with the financial backing to compete for larger contracts and establish a lasting presence in foreign markets,' he said.

Nazare emphasised that this was the first time an economic recovery package had included a clearly defined budget allocation for the internationalisation of Romanian businesses.

'And it's not by accident that it happened. It is a construction that included projects like the ones we have discussed today. It includes a higher level of ambition for Romanian companies and recognition that the state need to catch up with mature Romanian companies that have the capacity to expand internationally but also need support from the state. Exim already provides insurance for export credits and buyer credits, as well as new guarantee and counter-guarantee products for exporters. These can protect against the risk of non-payment and help banks finance purchases from Romanian suppliers. Political risk insurance can also support investment abroad, subject to terms and assessment of each project,' Nazare added.

The second area identified by the Finance Minister was European funding.

'Exim Banca Romaneasca participates in the Ukraine Export Credit Guarantee Facility under the InvestEU programme, supporting Romanian exporters. The first bridges were already been build in April. Exim signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine's PrivatBank. Under InvestEU, Romanian exporters gained protection for their contracts, while Ukrainian buyers gain better payment terms. The Ukraine Investment Framework has a total capacity of over 9 billion euros in guarantees and grants, with the aim of mobilising up to 40 billion euros in investment. Romanian firms should engage early with relevant financial institutions and potential partners to ensure that their proposals are commercially viable and that financing is considered from the outset,' the Finance Minister explained.

Regarding the third area - co-ordination - Nazare referred to the Team Romania initiative.

'The third level, which again is very important, is co-ordination. The Team Romania initiative, previously launched for the Global Gateway programme, brings together our export credit agency, the Development Bank and institutions responsible for economic diplomacy. It offers a useful model for co-ordinating support for reconstruction, within each institution's remit. The chambers of commerce represented here can help turn this co-ordination into concrete business partnerships. Across Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, better transport connections and energy networks can support production and trade across all three economies. As Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova progress towards EU membership, closer alignment with European rules can make cross-border investment more predictable. There is also a financial argument for security in the Black Sea region and along the Danube. Instability is reflected in insurance premiums, transport costs and lending decisions,' the minister noted.

Alexandru Nazare stressed that regional stability was itself a form of economic policy and that Romania had both the interest and the capacity to make a significant contribution.

'Our task is to make these financial instruments work for companies, in partnership with Ukraine and with proper public resources. In this way, we support Ukraine's recovery while building lasting economic ties across our region. This must correspond to a new level of ambition Romania has in regard to the internationalisation of Romanian businesses,' the Finance Minister concluded.

The New Strategy Center is holding the third edition of its international conference Rebuilding Ukraine: Security, Opportunities, Investment at Romexpo on Thursday and Friday. The event aims to identify strategic projects and concrete investment opportunities for Ukraine's reconstruction, as well as strengthen economic co-operation between Romania and Ukraine.

Key topics include strategic infrastructure and connectivity, transport and logistics, security and defence, energy, agriculture and sustainable development, reconstruction financing, trade and investment, and the role of local and regional communities. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Tilica; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)