Rethinking сities in Ukraine

Arrival, registration and informal networking.

Welcome remarks and strategic framing of Ukraine’s reconstruction, with a focus on the role of municipalities, international partners and industry in moving projects from concept to implementation and financing.

Speakers include:

• Ragnar Lund, Initiator & Director, Rethinking Cities in Ukraine, Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University  
• Svitlana Zalishchuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Sweden  
• Alona Shkrum, First Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine  
• Ulrik Tideström, Special Envoy for Ukraine’s Reconstruction, Government of Sweden  
• Fredrik Nordin, Head of Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University  
• Kurt Bratteby, Swedish Institute
• Paul Westin, Swedish Energy Agency  

From Local Needs to Bankable Projects and Partnerships  
How can municipal needs be translated into structured, financeable projects, and how can industry and financial institutions engage already in early-stage development?

Speakers:

• Yurii Kushnir, Deputy Mayor, Lozova (Kharkiv region)
• Tony Lindström, Head of Customer Finance – International Markets, Volvo Construction Equipment  
• Eline Suijlen, Strategic Partnerships – Water & Energy, Alfa Laval  
• Ryan Knox, Managing Director, SALAR International  
• Sophie Taintor, Investment Manager, Project Accelerator, Swedfund
• Kaare Stamer Andreasen, Senior Director – Ukraine, EIFO
• Ulrik Tideström, Special Envoy, Government of Sweden

Urban Energy Systems – From Concept to Implementation  

Case: Kryvyi Rih Smart Energy Park  

A discussion on resilient and decentralised energy systems, and how large-scale municipal energy projects can move from concept to implementation and financing.

Speakers: 

• Yevhen Udod, First Deputy Mayor, Kryvyi Rih Municipality  
• Stefan Gahns, Director, Siemens Energy  
• Denis Gaiovy, Associate Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Group, EBRD
• Johan Heiskala, Director, Project Accelerator, Swedfund  
• Paul Westin, Swedish Energy Agency  

Moderator: 

• Liisa Raasakka, Head of EIB Group Office in Sweden, European Investment Bank  

Municipal teams present priority projects developed within the programme, reflecting real needs under wartime conditions and early-stage project development.

Municipalities:

• Chornomorsk (Odesa region) – Local economic development
• Fastiv (Kyiv region) – Waste management and circular solutions
• Kovel (Volyn region) – Resilient and decentralised energy systems
• Rokytne (Rivne region) – Water and wastewater infrastructure
• Shepetivka (Khmelnytskyi region) – Veteran reintegration and social infrastructure

Interactive session connecting municipalities, industry, financial institutions and public actors, focusing on partnerships and next steps towards implementation.

A closed roundtable with representatives from the Swedish Parliament, industry and Ukrainian municipalities, focusing on barriers and enabling conditions for private sector engagement in Ukraine’s reconstruction.