PAIH strengthens the position of Polish business in Ukraine’s reconstruction: Key outcomes of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026

The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk was one of the most important economic events dedicated to Ukraine’s reconstruction. For the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, it provided an opportunity to present tangible results of its long standing efforts to support Polish businesses.

PAIH creates the conditions for Polish companies to succeed

The Polish National Stand, prepared by PAIH during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, became one of the conference’s key business meeting points. The stand was officially opened by Andrzej Domański, Minister of Finance and Economy, while one of its first guests was Yulia Svyrydenko, Prime Minister of Ukraine. Her presence was a clear signal that Poland remains one of Ukraine’s key partners in the reconstruction process and in developing economic cooperation.

Since the beginning of the full scale war, PAIH has actively supported Polish businesses operating in the Ukrainian market through its Foreign Trade Offices in Kyiv and Lviv. The Agency helps companies find reliable partners, organises business missions, facilitates access to information about reconstruction projects and creates conditions for new investments.

PAIH and UkraineInvest strengthen cooperation in support of Polish business

The Polish Investment and Trade Agency continues to strengthen cooperation with key institutional partners in Ukraine. During the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, Artur Osuchowski, Acting President of the PAIH Management Board, and Maryna Khlystun, CEO of UkraineInvest, signed a Letter of Intent, marking a new stage in cooperation between the two institutions.

The document builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021 and provides a framework for further joint initiatives aimed at developing trade, investment and business partnerships between Poland and Ukraine. For Polish businesses, this means even more effective support in establishing contacts, implementing investment projects and taking advantage of opportunities related to Ukraine’s reconstruction.

The partnership between PAIH and UkraineInvest is particularly important amid the ongoing war. Despite the challenging environment, Polish companies have not withdrawn from the Ukrainian market. They continue their operations, rebuild production facilities, preserve jobs and participate in projects essential to the functioning of the Ukrainian economy.

The figures confirm this trend. At the beginning of November 2025, as many as 4,505 companies operating in Ukraine maintained business links with Poland, almost 1,000 more than just a few months earlier. This demonstrates that the presence of Polish business in Ukraine is long term and strategic, and that companies see Ukraine as an important market for growth, including in the context of post war reconstruction.

As one of Ukraine’s closest partners, Poland plays a particularly important role in rebuilding economic relations, facilitating investment flows and transferring knowledge. PAIH actively supports this process by building institutional partnerships and creating the conditions for Polish companies to expand successfully in the Ukrainian market.

Cooperation with UkraineInvest strengthens the ability of both institutions to attract investors, develop business projects and connect Polish and Ukrainian partners. It is another step towards fulfilling PAIH’s mission of increasing the participation of Polish companies in the reconstruction and long-term economic development of Ukraine.

PAIH supports businesses in the Ukrainian market

How can companies operate in wartime conditions? What challenges do Polish businesses face, and where are the greatest investment opportunities emerging today? These questions were addressed during the panel “Polish Business in Ukraine During Wartime: Experiences and Perspectives of Polish Entrepreneurs”, moderated at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 by Karol Kubica, Director of PAIH’s Foreign Trade Offices in Kyiv and Lviv.

The discussion brought together representatives of companies that have been operating in the Ukrainian market for many years: Piotr Ciarkowski, President of the Management Board of Bikor Sp. z o.o. and Vice President of the Polish Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PUIG); Halina Lubas, EMBA, Director of Ukrainian Market Development at ELQ S.A. and Chief Operating Officer at ELQ INVESTMENTS; Leszek Gołąbiecki, Director of General Construction and Vice President of the Management Board at Unibep Group; and Maciej Szyszko, President of PZU Ukraine. The panellists agreed that despite the ongoing war, Ukraine remains a market with enormous growth potential, and that the presence of Polish companies is already contributing to economic recovery and preparing the country for future investment.

The scale of the challenge is unprecedented. As Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, noted during the conference, Ukraine will need more than USD 580 billion for reconstruction over the next decade. The greatest needs are in transport, energy and housing. Approximately 14 percent of the country’s housing stock has already been damaged or destroyed, while more than three million households have been affected by the consequences of the war.

For Polish companies, this also represents significant opportunities for growth. Since 2022, Ukraine has become the largest destination for Polish investment in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. According to data from the National Bank of Ukraine, the value of Polish foreign direct investment reached USD 1.21 billion in 2024, confirming the growing role of Polish business in the Ukrainian market.

PAIH actively supports companies in taking advantage of this potential. In cooperation with the Ministry of Development and Technology, the Agency has created a Database of Companies interested in operating in the Ukrainian market, which now includes more than 3,600 Polish companies representing key sectors of the economy. Through the database, businesses can access information about reconstruction projects, tenders, business missions and opportunities to establish business partnerships.

This tool is complemented by the Catalogue of Polish Companies Interested in the Reconstruction of Ukraine, a database of businesses ready to participate in infrastructure, energy, municipal and industrial projects. In this way, PAIH not only supports the international expansion of Polish companies but also helps build their strong position in Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term economic development.

PAIH builds an economic bridge between Poland, Japan and Ukraine

One of the key events accompanying the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 was the Poland and Japan Public Private Forum: Trilateral Dialogue of Economy, organised by PAIH at the Polish National Stand. The forum confirmed Poland’s growing role as a partner connecting the potential of Japanese investors with the needs of Ukraine’s reconstruction.

The event brought together representatives of the governments of Poland, Ukraine and Japan, including Michał Baranowski, Oleksii Sobolev and Kenji Yamada. The event was opened by the heads of PAIH, UkraineInvest and JETRO, followed by a ministerial panel and a discussion involving business representatives from all three countries. The talks focused on developing public private partnerships and opportunities for joint projects in infrastructure, energy, new technologies and industry.

For PAIH, developing trilateral cooperation is one of the key ways of supporting Polish companies in Ukraine’s reconstruction. Poland brings experience, logistical capabilities and strong implementation capacity, while Japan contributes capital, advanced technologies and many years of investment experience. Combining these strengths creates new opportunities for Polish companies participating in reconstruction projects.

Relations between Poland and Japan are taking on increasing strategic importance. The declaration on comprehensive strategic partnership signed in 2026 opens new opportunities for cooperation in the areas of the economy, security, energy, new technologies and the space sector. PAIH actively supports this process by creating a platform for dialogue between government and business and initiating partnerships that can lead to concrete investments. Projects of this kind strengthen the position of Polish companies and lay the long-term foundations for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

Dual Use Technologies as a catalyst for Polish Ukrainian cooperation

Dual use technologies are becoming one of the most important areas of Polish Ukrainian cooperation in response to growing defence needs and changes in the European defence industry. This topic was addressed during the panel “Dual Use Technologies as a Catalyst of Polish Ukrainian Cooperation”, held on 25 June 2026 as part of the Ukraine Recovery Conference.

The discussion featured Andriy Chulyk, CEO of Sine Engineering, a Ukrainian company specialising in communication and navigation modules for drones; Łukasz Czajkowski, Director General of the Polish Dual Use Chamber (PIDU); Krzysztof Błaszak, an expert at Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK); and Aleksandra Lisicka Firlej, an expert at the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH). The panel was moderated by Rafał Sordyl, Head of the Defence Industry Unit at the Department of Security Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.

The dual use technology sector is becoming increasingly important from a strategic perspective. Products and solutions in this field, ranging from communication and navigation systems to drones, electronics, advanced materials and software, are used in both civilian and defence applications. For Ukrainian companies such as Sine Engineering, this creates a more straightforward pathway to entering the EU market. For Polish companies, it offers an opportunity to access technologies that have been tested in combat conditions.

Poland has a unique position as a NATO frontline state and a direct neighbour of Ukraine. Its geographical proximity developed industrial infrastructure and experience in accessing EU support instruments make Poland a natural partner for Ukrainian dual use manufacturers looking to locate or scale up production in Europe. Financial institutions such as BGK, as well as industry organisations representing Poland’s defence sector, play an important role in this process.

PAIH actively supports this process by offering Ukrainian and other foreign investors, as well as Polish companies, comprehensive assistance, including location advisory services, support in dealing with public authorities, assistance in obtaining government grants and incentives available under the Polish Investment Zone. For companies in the dual use sector, this means access to institutional support as well as opportunities to benefit from existing industrial clusters and Poland’s defence ecosystem. An important part of the discussion also focused on the “Team Poland” approach and whether public institutions are already able to work together and present Ukrainian partners with a coherent and coordinated offer.

The panellists agreed that effective cooperation requires not only regulatory adjustments and simpler administrative procedures on both sides of the border, but above all the development of mutual trust between businesses.

MoU between PAIH and the Polish Dual Use Chamber

During the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026, the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Polish Dual Use Chamber (PIDU, formally the Chamber of Commerce for Dual Use and Defence Solutions). The agreement opens a new chapter in supporting companies operating in the dual use technology sector, including Polish businesses entering the defence industry and foreign investors looking for manufacturing partners in Poland. PIDU, which already brings together more than 150 companies, represents a rapidly growing segment of the Polish economy that combines the expertise of the civilian industry with the increasing needs of the defence sector. Through the signed MoU, PAIH will strengthen its network of expert partners in one of the fastest growing sectors of the Polish economy.

PAIH information session for representatives of Ukrainian business

During the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdańsk, an information session titled “Investing and Doing Business with Polish Companies: Information Session for Ukrainian Partners” was held at the Team Poland stand. The session was organised by PAIH for representatives of Ukrainian businesses and development institutions. Participants learned about Team Poland’s comprehensive support offer for companies interested in cooperating with Polish partners and implementing joint investment projects. During the session, experts from PAIH, BGK, PFR TFI, KUKE, SSE EURO PARK MIELEC and PARP presented financial, insurance, investment and development instruments supporting economic expansion and Ukraine’s reconstruction. The meeting helped increase awareness among the Ukrainian business community of how the Polish Development Fund operates and of the tools offered by the various institutions within the group. It also created an opportunity to establish business contacts and deepen Polish Ukrainian cooperation.

Arkadiusz Tarnowski, Deputy Director of the Investment Support Department at PAIH, took part in a panel discussion on the role of special economic zones. Participants agreed on the importance of special economic zones as a proven tool for supporting investment and international cooperation. They noted that special economic zones provide a natural platform for Polish Ukrainian cooperation, offering ready-made infrastructure and investment facilities, enabling projects to be launched quickly and providing attractive conditions for investors. Special economic zones can reduce investment risks, accelerate procedures and provide investors with stable conditions for long term engagement in Ukraine

Industrial parks: new opportunities for Polish investors

The development of industrial parks is one of the key pillars of the reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy and an area in which Polish companies can play a significant role. This topic was addressed during the panel “Industrial Parks as Platforms for Scaling Production in Ukraine: Incentives, Strategic Investors and Industrial Clusters for Industrial Recovery”, organised during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 with the participation of representatives of public administration, development institutions and businesses from Poland and Ukraine.

The discussion included representatives of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Ministry of Development and Technology of Poland, UkraineInvest, the Industrial Development Agency, PAIH and managers of Ukrainian industrial parks. The discussion focused on the role of industrial parks as platforms for rebuilding production, attracting investors, creating new jobs and integrating Ukraine into European supply chains.

For PAIH, the development of industrial parks is one of the key areas of support for Polish companies interested in participating in Ukraine’s reconstruction. These locations will be important for investments in infrastructure, industry, energy and logistics, creating new opportunities for cooperation with Polish companies.

The scale of development in this segment is growing steadily. Ukraine’s official register currently lists 120 industrial parks, of which around 30 are operating with full infrastructure. Investors can benefit from attractive incentives offered by the Ukrainian government, including ten-year tax exemptions and preferential treatment for the import of equipment and machinery.

At the beginning of 2026, the value of investment in Ukrainian industrial parks reached EUR 930 to 940 million, representing an increase of 48.1 percent compared with the beginning of 2024. There are already 37 manufacturing plants operating or under construction in the parks, with the number expected to exceed 50 by the end of 2026. A total of 4,712 jobs have been created so far, while the Ukrainian government allocated UAH 1.98 billion to the development of infrastructure in 56 industrial parks in 2024 and 2025. A further UAH 1 billion has been allocated for this purpose in the 2026 budget.

PAIH actively supports Polish companies in identifying projects located in industrial parks and establishing cooperation with their operators and local partners. The dynamic development of this segment makes industrial parks one of the most promising areas for investment and an important element of the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine’s economy.

Photo gallery: