Anna Gvozdiar at Rebuild Ukraine Expo: EU will allocate over €140 million to develop Ukraine’s dual-use technologies

For the first time, the European Union has opened the possibility of allocating funds from the Ukraine Facility program to support dual-use technologies. Previously, such areas were not eligible for funding.

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Anna Gvozdiar, announced this during the Rebuild Ukraine Expo, held in Warsaw, Poland.

This will enable support for producers of advanced navigation and communication systems, next-generation drones, aerospace technologies and high-precision metallurgical products.

“The expansion of the Ukraine Facility to include dual-use technologies is the result of several months of joint efforts between Ukraine and the EU. It opens access to financial resources, starting with more than €140 million that the EU will channel through the Ukraine Investment Framework for loans and grants to companies. This will allow Ukrainian companies to scale up more rapidly, attract investment, and develop products that strengthen the resilience of Ukraine and the whole of Europe,” emphasised Anna Gvozdiar.

At a working meeting with Anna Jarosz-Friis, Director of the Ukraine Service at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR), and Orest Tokač, Head of the Unit for Private Investments and Strategic Industrial Sectors of Ukraine at the European Commission, the parties examined practical aspects of implementing this instrument, potential funding volumes, and further steps.

During the panel discussion “Unlocking Investment in Strategic Industries, Enabling Ukraine’s Resilience”, the Deputy Minister of Defence stressed that supporting critical technologies and production is a shared priority for Ukraine and the EU member states.

In addition, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine addressed and welcomed the participants of the session “Investing into Resilience & Defence” In her address, Anna Gvozdiar highlighted the scale and pace of the development of Ukraine’s dual-use sector. 

“Ukraine is building a modern, competitive and innovative defence and dual-use industry. Last year alone, over three thousand enterprises manufactured dual-use products amounting to €5.5 billion – and this represents only part of the potential we are demonstrating to our partners today,” noted Anna Gvozdiar.

As part of the visit, a meeting was also held with representatives of Estonian businesses, during which the parties discussed ways to deepen cooperation between the defence industries of Ukraine and Estonia.

The program of the visit to Poland also included a meeting with the delegation of Australia’s Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT). The parties discussed opportunities to deepen Ukrainian–Australian defence cooperation.