But these challenges also open a window of opportunity.
This was the focus of the sectoral conference “Construction and Infrastructure: Key Industries for Economic Growth,” organized by We Build Ukraine. It was an important step toward implementing Ukraine’s Economic Growth Strategy, with construction as one of its eight key pillars.
Leaders from Ukrainian and international construction companies, financial institutions, industry associations, diplomats, and investors discussed not abstract visions, but concrete problems and practical solutions.
For me, this dialogue is a natural continuation of the work we began with the Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development between 2022–2024. Our priorities were clear: digitalization, reducing regulatory pressure, and fighting corruption at all levels.
Key results included the creation of a unified electronic construction system, digitalization of recovery processes, the establishment of DIAM from scratch, a moratorium on certain types of inspections, and ongoing dialogue with the market.
The urban planning reform proposed under Law 5655 could have been a real watershed for the sector — and I believe it will be implemented over time.
Our team’s experience laid the foundation for We Build Ukraine, a think tank working on systemic reforms in eight economic sectors to significantly boost Ukraine’s GDP by 2040.
At the conference, participants clearly outlined the key challenges we must overcome for economic recovery:
- Chaotic spatial planning, which blocks investment and fuels corruption
- Lack of interagency coordination and bureaucratic approval procedures, Inefficient procurement systems cause dumping and quality loss
- Insufficient attention to preserving and upskilling human capital
- Critical need to develop public-private partnerships for large-scale recovery projects
The construction sector can drive Ukraine’s economic recovery — but only through deep modernization, smart planning, total transparency, and massive private capital involvement on fair and clear terms.
