Germany - Ukraine partnership advances green industrial recovery through SME and municipal cooperation
Nuremberg, Munich, 12 May 2026: Concrete investment partnerships were advanced, technology exchange between Ukrainian and German stakeholders was intensified, and long-term cooperation for Ukraine’s green reconstruction was strengthened. These results were achieved through a high-level engagement that connected Ukrainian municipalities, SMEs, and regional development actors with leading partners in Nuremberg and Munich. This impact was enabled by a study tour organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the Nuremberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Middle Franconia and German partners. The programme combined targeted investment matchmaking, hands-on knowledge exchange, and exposure to leading global industry platforms such as IFAT Munich.
The visit took place from 4 to 8 May 2026 and connected a high-level delegation Ukrainian municipalities, Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), and SMEs with German municipalities, companies, and business support institutions. The initiative was implemented under the project “Green Industrial Recovery through Municipality-Based Development in Ukraine,” funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The initiative translates ongoing technical cooperation into investment-ready partnerships. It builds on a series of UNIDO-led webinars on local economic development and innovation-driven growth that reflect strong demand from Ukrainian stakeholders for applied, practice-oriented engagement with German counterparts, particularly in the areas of municipal investment planning, SME internationalization, and green industrial development.
The programme focused on structured matchmaking and partnership-building between Ukrainian and German partners. Ukrainian participants and their German partners discussed selected municipal and industrial investment opportunities. The study tour also included site visits to municipal and industrial facilities. Ukrainian delegation also attended IFAT Munich, the world’s leading trade fair for solutions in environmental technology, where they engaged directly with industry leaders, explored cutting-edge solutions, and identified potential technology and business partners relevant to Ukraine’s green recovery priorities.
“By connecting municipalities, SMEs, and industry leaders, we are turning cooperation between Germany and Ukraine into concrete, investment-ready partnerships that drive sustainable reconstruction and long-term economic resilience, “ said Markus Lotzsch, Managing Director of the Nuremberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Middle Franconia.
“Participation in IFAT offers a unique opportunity to identify specific technological solutions for modernizing public utilities and improving the quality of life for residents in the Kharkiv region. Our objective is to facilitate the transfer of global best practices and innovations, discuss equipment supply opportunities, and attract potential investment to Ukraine, “ said Yevhenii Lukianenko, Director of Regional Development Agency of the Kharkiv Region.
By linking municipal development with SME competitiveness, industrial innovation, and international partnerships, the study tour contributes to Ukraine’s broader green industrial recovery agenda, supporting sustainable reconstruction, economic resilience, and integration into European value chains.
The study tour laid the groundwork for concrete follow-up actions and partnership development, and has delivered concrete results:
Identification of investment and cooperation opportunities between Ukrainian and German businesses and municipalities
Increased engagement of German companies in Ukraine’s green recovery efforts
Enhanced exposure of Ukrainian participants to international technologies and suppliers through IFAT, supporting technology scouting and partnership development
For more information, please contact:
Giorgi TODUA, UNIDO Industrial Development Expert, g.todua [at] unido.org
