(new: volume of investment and export guarantees, penultimate paragraph)

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - German business wants to invest more in Ukraine despite the ongoing war. Many companies have a strong interest in expanding partnerships with Ukrainian firms, Peter Adrian, president of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said Tuesday at the 6th German-Ukrainian Business Forum in Berlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) assured Ukraine of Germany's long-term support, including for reconstruction. "Ukraine can rely on Germany."

Scholz, as well as Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), pointed to easier access for German companies to government investment and export guarantees. Habeck said he believed something was getting rolling. The crucial thing, he said, is that confidence in investment is maintained and rebuilt. It is not natural to invest in a country that is at war, he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj said in a video-transmitted greeting that Germany is a reliable partner for Ukraine. He pointed to great potential in economic cooperation. The top priority, he said, was to expand the defense sector.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stressed the importance of a joint venture between the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and the Ukrainian state-owned company Ukrainian Defense Industry JSC, formerly known as Ukroboronprom. This had now been registered with the relevant authorities.

The two companies had already launched their strategic cooperation in May. According to Rheinmetall, the joint venture will be active in service and maintenance, assembly, production and development of military vehicles, initially exclusively on the territory of Ukraine. The cooperation is intended to strengthen Ukraine's defense economic base and ultimately the country's national security, it said. "It is intended to gradually build joint capabilities in defense technology in Ukraine."

Selenskyj and Shmyhal thanked Germany for arms deliveries. The prime minister said all support was needed. Shmyhal had announced a "winter package" including the delivery of another Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. "Every factory that is not destroyed, every power line that can be protected, every company where production continues will ultimately help stabilize Ukraine economically as well."

Shmyhal said that after a sharp drop in economic output last year as a result of the Russian war of aggression, the Ukrainian economy will grow by four percent this year. He also stressed Ukraine's reform path toward EU accession. The EU will become economically stronger with Ukraine, he said. Frozen Russian assets should also be used for the country's reconstruction. Schmyhal called for German investments, for example in the reconstruction of the energy supply or in the agricultural sector.

The deputy chairman of the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations, Christian Bruch, said that regardless of the war, a dozen investment projects have already been started in Ukraine. "German companies are currently applying for investment guarantees from the federal government with 30 more project ideas." Another 70 project ideas have been submitted, he said. "Reconstruction has started and German companies are getting involved."

Especially in the western and central parts of the country, the risk of war is manageable, Bruch said. What is needed, however, are more attractive, government and private financing offers, as well as insurance lots for transports through Ukraine.

According to economic data, since the beginning of the war there have been 14 investment guarantees by the federal government totaling 280 million euros, and 2023 export guarantees have so far provided new coverage totaling 140 million euros.

In addition to private investment, the German government has also already pledged greater financial support to Ukraine for reconstruction. An international reconstruction conference is planned for June 2024 in Berlin./hoe/DP/he