Polish entrepreneurs are currently not interested in participating in the reconstruction of Ukraine, according to government envoy Paweł Kowal. The politician emphasized that the level of interest is lower than expected.
“No One Even Wants to Go on a Site Visit”
“No one, neither from Western companies nor Polish ones, wants to even go on a site visit to Ukraine today because the risks are too high,” Kowal said in an interview with the portal WP.pl.
Limited Interest
The politician pointed to the relatively low enthusiasm of Polish businesses for rebuilding Ukraine.
“There is some interest, but it is lower than I expected,” he admitted.
As he recalled, a substantial fund has been prepared within the Ukraine Facility, a European program allocating at least €800 million for Polish companies willing to participate.
“For now, I am still calling for applications because there could definitely be more,” Kowal noted.
He also mentioned that on Thursday evening, he spent “a lot of time” with representatives of Polish businesses.
“We have planned joint preparations for an upcoming conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction in Italy. This week, bilateral consultations on Ukraine’s reconstruction, involving Polish-Italian, Polish-Swiss, and Polish-British businesses, have begun,” he said.
However, he emphasized that all these efforts are still in the preparatory phase.
“You cannot force businesses to go and invest money when bombs are still falling,” Kowal pointed out.
Concerns Over Safety and Uncertainty
The Polish government is attempting to encourage companies to participate in Ukraine’s reconstruction. In addition to the EU’s Ukraine Facility, a special fund has been established by BGK (Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego) and the Ministry of Development to support businesses rebuilding Ukraine from a Polish base.
“The whole concept of Poland as a hub and transport center will continue to develop. We are preparing additional studies and proposals in this regard,” Kowal said.
Yet, despite financial incentives, businesses remain hesitant. The reluctance to invest is likely driven by multiple factors, including the ongoing war, economic uncertainty, and high risks.
The current challenges facing Polish businesses domestically further reduce their willingness to engage in risky ventures abroad. While various financing programs exist, they have so far failed to attract significant interest.
For now, businesses seem to be adopting a wait-and-see approach, prioritizing risk management over potential opportunities in Ukraine.