Switzerland plans to gather up to 700 participants at Ukraine Reform Conference

"We plan to gather from 500 to 700 participants at this conference and talk about very specific things about the reforms we are seeing in Ukraine, which are happening very rapidly and which relate to two very important areas for the people of Ukraine and also for the people of Switzerland: prosperity and stability," Vice President, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis said at a joint press conference with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on October 28, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

Cassis noted that Switzerland sought to play its role in the establishment of peace and stability as this is one of the main goals of its foreign policy. Therefore, the country agreed to host the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference, as well as "to look ahead to the future, seeking peace and stability."

According to Kuleba, Ukraine and Switzerland already formed teams to prepare for the conference.

"Next year, Lugano will host the 5th Ukraine Reform Conference. Today we paid a lot of attention to its content and agreed that we wanted to see clearer and more concrete results of this conference. Our teams have already been formed and are working to ensure that this conference becomes a success story," he said.

Kuleba added that Ukraine also strived to expand investment cooperation with Switzerland, which is one of the five largest investors in the Ukrainian economy.

"Ukraine has a number of attractive mutually beneficial projects to which we invite strategic Swiss investors. Specific proposals will be discussed soon as a meeting of the Ukraine–Switzerland joint committee is scheduled for December 2-3 in Kyiv ... and we plan to hold a business forum within the framework of the Committee," the minister informed.

The chief Swiss diplomat pointed out the positive changes in the economy: “Last year, trade between our countries increased by 13.8%. So far, we can say that the results for specific volumes are not so impressive, but they can evolve."

According to Cassis, Switzerland, in particular, is very active in railway transportation and hopes to promote this cooperation.

He noted that the budget for Switzerland–Ukraine cooperation aimed at peace and stability amounted to CHF 30 million.

As reported, on October 27-29, Ignacio Cassis is on a visit to Ukraine to make preparations for the international 5th Ukraine Reform Conference.

The 5th Ukraine Reform Conference will be held on July 4-5, 2022, in the Swiss city of Lugano with the participation of representatives of the Ukrainian authorities of all levels.

Photo credit: Ignazio Cassis, Twitter

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