The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) has created and launched a special resource for investors, which provides full information on implemented and prospect projects in the ports of the country — http://investinports.com/. This was announced by the Head of USPA, Raivis Veckagans, at the Ukrainian Ports Forum-2018. «The Investment portal of USPA is specifically designed to attract investors to Ukrainian ports. This website brings together all the information that is necessary for private investors to make a decision and to help state-owned companies — for qualitative work with potential investors»,— said Raivis Veckagans. The Investment portal was created by USPA in order to present infrastructure projects in the Ukrainian port industry and attract potential investors to the port infrastructure. The target audience of the resource is investors who are interested in developing their business in Ukrainian ports and want to find partners for joint implementation of projects. For them, the Investment portal offers many opportunities. Firstly, the site contains complete and up-to-date information on Ukrainian seaports (cargo turnover, cargo nomenclature, berthing and access infrastructure, depth, etc. in the context of each port). Thus, a potential investor can compare, analyze, and select a port that meets his requests. Secondly, the site contains data on infrastructure projects that are already being implemented on the territory of Ukrainian ports. These projects may be at different stages of implementation, but still open for investments. The Investment portal is a dynamic interaction tool. The feature of the site is that any company interested in business development in the seaports of Ukraine can place its project on this web resource to find potential investors. To do this, you need to contact USPA (the contacts are listed on the site) to upload information about the project. Large-scale public procurement services, customer of which is USPA, will be also highlighted on the Investment portal. This will help to bring even a wider range of international and national contractors to implement infrastructure projects in the seaports of Ukraine. In addition, the site contains recommendations on the mechanisms of investment in the maritime industry and the current legislation regulating business activities in ports. To recall, Ukrainian Ports Forum-2018 for the first time was held on 31st of May in Odessa, organized by USPA and Center for Transport Strategies.

On the heels of the Ukrainian Port Forum-2018 on May 31st, the flagship event for Ukraine’s port infrastructure development, the country has launched a new World Bank supported technical assistance funded by the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF)to help position the port sector for more private investment. With its geographically favorable location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and its large and rapidly growing grain and agricultural outputs, Ukraine seeks to improve its logistics sector and facilitate more international trade. One piece of this puzzle requires urgent modernization of Ukraine’s 13 seaports and an overhaul of the current outdated port management model. The technical assistance launched this week will help Ukraine identify key areas to focus on as it proceeds with reforming its port sector. The assistance will deliver a review of port sector legislation, an assessment of the current state of port infrastructure, and a review of the current governance structure, along with a roadmap to help move the sector to a full landlord model. Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority CEO, Raivis Veckagans, notes that “Sea port reform has been ongoing since 2013 with the separation of operational and administrative activities. Since that time Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority has set ambitious goal to significantly increase current handling of 130 million tons of cargo per year, achieve European standards of service, and promote Ukraine as an important player on existing and emerging global trade routes. We believe that reform of port management being launched next week with the support of World Bank and PPIAF will enhance opportunities to increase private participation and attract leading global players to achieve these goals”. Juan Gaviria, Practice Manager for Transport in Europe notes that “The World Bank has a substantial advisory services and investment portfolio across all transport sectors in Ukraine supporting the Logistics Strategy and Action Plan; ports, inland water transport, railways modernization, road corridor prioritization and strategic investment. We recognize the importance of improving the port sector to better connect to the other modes of transport and foster greater trade and promote inclusive economic development”. PPIAF Program Manager, Francois Bergere notes that “attracting private investment into infrastructure requires putting the necessary ‘upstream’ institutional conditions in place. We have been providing support to Ukraine’s transport subsectors over the past few years to help foster such an environment favorable to private investment and are happy to continue this work in Ukraine’s port sector, where there seems to be a lot of momentum.” The Public – Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) is a multi-donor technical assistance facility that is financed by 11 multilateral and bilateral donors. Established in 1999 as a joint initiative of the governments of Japan and the United Kingdom, working closely with and housed inside the World Bank Group, PPIAF is a catalyst for increasing private sector participation in emerging markets. Its mission is to help eliminate poverty and increase shared prosperity in developing countries by facilitating private sector involvement in infrastructure.

The Ukrainian Sea Port authority (USPA) is joining ESPO as an observer member. This follows a decision of the General Assembly of ESPO, who gathered yesterday for their assembly and for the annual conference in Rotterdam.“We are very pleased to welcome USPA as an observer member in ESPO. The Black Sea is a very important part of Europe’s maritime network with ESPO member ports in Romania and Bulgaria. The Ukraine’s Association Agreement with the EU, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, make Ukraine’s ports an important part of the wider European transport network. USPA’s membership of ESPO is a logical consequence of the Ukraine’s strong relationship with the EU. There are already excellent working relationships between ESPO members and Ukrainian ports and I am delighted now to welcome USPA as an observer member in our organisation strengthening ESPO’s presence in the Black Sea” says ESPO Chairman, Eamonn O’Reilly.«USPA is honored to join ESPO. Since signing the Association Agreement between EU and Ukraine, we have focused on connectivity of our transport infrastructures. Through the observer membership at ESPO, USPA is continuing governmental efforts to establish mutually beneficial cooperation with the European counterparts. We are glad to join European port community and are keen to actively participate in the forming the future agenda of the port&maritime industries.» says Raivis Veckagans, CEO of USPA.“I am looking forward to work with the Ukrainian ports, to inform them about the EU policy on ports, to exchange good practices and challenges and to integrate them in our network of port professionals”, adds Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s secretary General.

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority together with the Center of Transport Strategies organizes UKRAINIAN PORTS FORUM-2018, which will be held on May 31, 2018 in Odessa within the framework of the 17th International Trade and Transport Week. «The work of Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority today is focused on several vectors. First, it is the introduction of high standards and best practices in port sector in all directions — from staff development to investment attraction. The second is the implementation of Ukrainian ports development strategy with the construction of an effective industry management model and the third is the search for investors for promising projects that will bring profit to the state. UKRAINIAN PORTS FORUM will be dedicated to all these issues. This is not just a № 1 platform for meeting government and business, potential investors, international financial organizations, shippers and other market participants that affects the development of Ukrainian ports and the volume of investment in port infrastructure. The basis of the Forum is the presentation of all quality investment projects in the country's ports, ready to work with investors at the highest level,» said the USPA’s CEO, Raivis Veckagans. Taking into account the growing interest for Ukrainian port industry by international investors and financial institutions, we have invited leading companies that have significant impact on the development of the port business worldwide. DP World, Hutchinson Ports, Cargill, HHLA International, China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd, Clarksons Platou (Italia) S.R.L., IFC, EBRD and others have confirmed their participation in the event. Among the speakers from the government, we can highlight Volodymyr Kistion, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Omelyan, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Ravis Veckagans, CEO of the USPA, Maxim Stepanov, Governor of Odesa Region. Representatives of the European port authorities, foreign embassies to Ukraine, top management of the Ukrainian port industry companies and other highly professional experts are also invited to participate in the Forum. Besides the main program the Forum will include Conference «Ukrainian ports: People agenda» and the Round Table on Maritime Security in Ukraine «Ukrainian ports: Maritime security agenda». Participation in the Forum is possible subject to preliminary registration at the event page www.upf.com.ua. Contact person for participation and partnership: Alexey Panasyuk, tel.: +38 067 448-82-25, e-mail: \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .