The American delegation, along with Ukraine’s Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev, made a working visit to the Kirovohrad region to familiarize themselves with the sites that could be included in the portfolio of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.
This is reported by Finway
Potential Investment Projects in Kirovohrad Region
During the trip, representatives of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and members of the American-Ukrainian Investment Fund visited local enterprises and deposits. In particular, they focused on the Byrzuliv Mining and Processing Plant and the Likarivske deposit, which are considered promising sites for the fund’s investment projects.
According to Oleksiy Sobolev, titanium ore extraction is already underway at these sites. Additionally, plans are in place to start zirconium ore extraction in the region, and among the potential reserves, hafnium has been identified—a rare metal in demand in the nuclear energy and aerospace industries.
“Here, titanium ores are primarily extracted, and zirconium ore extraction is also planned for the future. There are also potential hafnium deposits—one of the rare earth metals used in nuclear energy, aerospace, and more,” he wrote on Facebook, adding that such visits are important to assess “the local potential, taking into account all aspects of future investments.”
Agreement on the Creation of the Investment Fund for Reconstruction
On April 30, Ukraine and the United States signed an agreement on economic partnership, which provides for the establishment of the Investment Fund for Reconstruction. As emphasized by Ukraine’s Minister of Economy Yuliya Svyrydenko, the fund is being created on an equal basis, with full ownership and control remaining with Ukraine, and funding will come from revenues generated by new licenses. The document does not create any debt obligations for Ukraine to the United States and will not act as a barrier to joining the European Union.
The agreement came into effect in May following the delivery of a diplomatic note from the United States.