U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) will host the Second URIF Industry Day on U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) welcoming the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) visiting delegation and focusing on private sector engagement with the U.S. Government and the Government of Ukraine. The event will be held on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, from 9:00 to 14:30 in Kyiv.
The below Program and Speakers of the Second URIF Industry Day reflect the key sectors selected for URIF’s investment portfolio. It will also incorporate discussion on project preparation facility, bankability, financing and attracting private capital, and will conclude with the Networking Lunch.
The first URIF Industry Day was hosted by USUBC in Washington DC on 16 December 2025 in partnership with the Atlantic Council, Business Executives for National Security (BENS) and International Stability Operations Association (ISOA).
Program:
9:00 – 9:30 AM
Registration, Welcome Coffee and Networking
10:30 – 10:30 AM
Panel One: Innovation-Driven Recovery and Development
- U.S.-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund (URIF) – an innovative bespoke mechanism; latest developments and deployment of equity investments in 2026
- Project preparation facility
- Bankability and financing – co-investment with IFIs and crowding in private capital
- URIF’s role in de-risking investments
- Key sectors in URIF’s investment portfolio: minerals, energy, infrastructure, transportation, logistics, telecoms and innovation
Moderator:
Irina Paliashvili, President & CEO, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Speakers:
Peter A. Briggs, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
Lesya Kuzmenko, Associate Director, Deputy Head of Ukraine, ICA (Industry, Commerce and Agribusiness), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
Yegor Perelygin, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine
Artem Rybchneko, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine
Jonathan Taylor, Associate General Counsel, Private Equity & Investment Funds, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Keynote Opening Remarks
Ambassador Julie S. Davis, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv
11:00 – 11:30 AM
Networking Coffee Break
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Panel Two: Strategic & Emerging Technologies
- Key sectors of Strategic & Emerging Technologies: defense tech, uncrewed systems and autonomous technologies, robotics, dual use, defense IT, AI-driven systems
- The role of DFIs, IFIs, venture capital and strategic investors in financing and development of Strategic & Emerging Technologies
- Cooperation opportunities in the defense tech sector, scaling defense innovation, testing, and rapid product deployment
- Dual use and demining
Moderator:
Anna Kovalenko, Senior Advisor, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Speakers:
Andrii Hrytseniuk, CEO, Brave1
Anthony Pollak, Country Officer, Ukraine, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
Yuriy Syvytsky, Advisory Board Member, Intecracy Group
Daria Yaniieva, President, Defence Builder Ecosystem
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Panel Three: Unlocking Ukraine’s Energy and Minerals Potential
- Strategic investors and available projects
- Roadblocks and needed improvements of the legal and investment regime; available legal instruments (PSAs, Concessions, PPP)
- Joint projects: what can a U.S. partner and a local partner offer on a joint project
- Investment-readiness in energy, mining and related sectors
Moderator:
Mykola Stetsenko, Managing Partner, AVELLUM
Speakers:
Niko Gachechyladze, Director, State Organization “Agency on Support of Public-Private Partnership”
Artem Petrenko, Executive Director, Association of Gas Producers of Ukraine
Nadiia Petruchenko, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, SPP Development Ukraine Group of Companies
Zain Shamim, Director at the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
Sergii Voitsekhovskyi, Board Member, BGV Group Management
1:30 – 1:40 PM
Keynote Closing Remarks
Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine
1:40 – 2:30 PM
Networking Lunch
Speakers
The attendance will be limited to USUBC members and partners. For questions and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Olha Andrieieva, Director of Member Services and Marketing at oandrieieva@usubc.org
