Yuko Yasunaga, Andrii Teliupa, Solomiya Omelyan and Olena Kovalova
Kyiv, Ukraine, 1 November 2025 – A high-level delegation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concluded a mission to Ukraine, reaffirming the Organization’s commitment to supporting the country’s green industrial recovery, resilience and modernization.
The delegation, led by Yuko Yasunaga, UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Corporate Services and Operations, carried out a series of high-level meetings in Kyiv and Lviv from 27 October to 1 November 2025. The visit aimed to advance cooperation under the UNIDO green industrial recovery programme for Ukraine (2024–2028), a strategic framework co-developed with the Government of Ukraine to guide the country’s green industrial recovery.
As part of the visit, UNIDO hosted the Green Industrial Recovery of Ukraine Day in Kyiv, the first event of its kind, bringing together government representatives, international partners, the private sector and the media to highlight joint efforts supporting Ukraine’s green industrial recovery. The event served as a platform to showcase the UNIDO green industrial recovery programme and to inaugurate its largest initiative, the Green industrial recovery project for Ukraine through technology transfer from and the co-creation of new businesses with Japan's private industries.
“We are here to reconfirm our strong commitment to supporting Ukraine’s green industrial recovery,” said Yuko Yasunaga. He introduced the project, funded by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI), with a total budget of USD 188 million. “The project facilitates technology transfer, industrial collaboration and skills development between Ukrainian and Japanese industries. It aims to benefit more than 30,000 Ukrainians and introduce, test or adopt over 40 advanced technologies across priority industrial sectors.”
Almost 50 Japanese start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises are working in Ukraine across a wide range of industrial sectors including agribusiness, circular economy, ICT, energy, hydrogen, SME productivity enhancement, assistive equipment and telemedicine.
Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine, noted that Japan has unique potential to assist Ukraine by drawing on its own experience in post-disaster reconstruction and by utilizing its advanced technologies. A video message was also delivered by Takehiko Matsuo, Vice-Minister for International Affairs of METI, who highlighted that Japan and Ukraine have signed 108 cooperation documents, including a joint declaration on the Tripartite Industrial Policy Dialogue.
The event also featured presentations from ongoing projects under the UNIDO green industrial recovery programme, highlighting work on energy efficiency, technology transfer, circular economy and resource efficiency, women and youth economic empowerment and cleantech innovation. Together, these efforts demonstrate how targeted technical assistance, policy support and international partnerships are helping Ukrainian industries become more resilient, sustainable and competitive.
“The Green Industrial Recovery Day has become an important milestone in our cooperation with UNIDO. This partnership expands our capacity to implement the policy of industrial modernization, foster innovation and attract investment. The joint project with UNIDO and the Government of Japan clearly demonstrates how international cooperation contributes to the development of industry and strengthens the economic resilience of our country,” said Andrii Teliupa, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
During the mission, UNIDO and the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture convened a meeting of the National Coordination Body (NCB) which ensures government ownership, facilitates partner coordination, reviews progress and guides strategic adjustments.
In Kyiv, the delegation held consultations with senior government officials from the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Consultations were also held with representatives of the EU Delegation, the Embassy of Switzerland and other development partners.
The mission concluded in Lviv, where the delegation met with the Mayor, who shared the city’s efforts to attract sustainable investment and expand local recovery initiatives including through innovation and support for vulnerable groups.
The delegation visited the UNBROKEN Centre, where beneficiaries of Japan-funded projects demonstrated how 3D prosthetics and entrepreneurship training are supporting job integration and recovery for people with disabilities and conflict-affected individuals.
At Horikhovyi Dim, an implementing partner of the Austrian-funded project on women’s and youth economic empowerment, beneficiaries presented their businesses across sectors including food production, fashion, real estate and social enterprise. They shared how UNIDO-supported training and coaching enabled them to rebuild livelihoods, generate employment and contribute to their communities. The visit showcased the importance of inclusive entrepreneurship in advancing economic resilience in Ukraine’s western regions.
Co-developed and co-implemented with the Government of Ukraine and with support of multiple donors and international partners, the programme provides a strategic framework to rebuild Ukraine’s green industrial recovery by creating opportunities for people, supporting businesses and attracting investment as well as fostering a green economy.
As of October 2025, UNIDO manages 13 active projects in Ukraine with a combined budget exceeding USD 210 million. These initiatives are funded by Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, the EU, Germany, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Japan, Poland and Switzerland among others.
For more information, please contact:
Regional Bureau for Europe and Central Asia (eur@unido.org)