On 5 March 2025, Milan hosted the pivotal “On the Road to URC 2025” business forum, marking a significant milestone in the lead-up to the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) scheduled for 10–11 July in Rome. This preparatory event convened over 550 representatives from 23 countries, including government officials, international financial institutions, and private sector leaders, to strategize Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction and economic revitalization.

Keynote speakers included Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal (via video message), First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Lombardy Region President Attilio Fontana. Their addresses underscored the urgency of mobilizing international investment and fostering public-private partnerships to rebuild Ukraine’s infrastructure, energy systems, and industrial base.

Discussions at the forum focused on several strategic areas:
• Investment and Financing: Exploring mechanisms to attract foreign capital, including risk insurance and government incentives.
• Energy Resilience and Green Transition: Promoting sustainable energy solutions and the development of a green energy system in Ukraine.
• Industrial Production and SMEs: Enhancing local manufacturing capabilities and integrating Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises into global supply chains.
• Infrastructure and Housing: Reconstructing critical infrastructure and providing housing solutions for internally displaced persons.

The event also highlighted collaborative initiatives such as the partnership between Lombardy and Zaporizhzhia regions and the presentation of a master plan for Mykolaiv’s recovery.

This Milan forum set the stage for the upcoming URC 2025 in Rome, which aims to consolidate international support and secure tangible commitments for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.