Andrew and Nicola Forrest commit US$500m to launch US$25bn Ukraine Green Growth Initiative supported by President Zelenskyy
PR98854
SINGAPORE, Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed one of Australia's largest
private investment groups committing US$500 million to seed a minimum US$25
billion Ukraine Green Growth Initiative. The fund is expected to grow to at
least US$100 billion.
This investment fund will focus on primary infrastructure such as energy and
communications to build a digital green grid, so Ukraine can become a model for
the world as a leading digital green economy.
Dr Andrew Forrest and President Zelenskyy announced the investment by the
Tattarang Group at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore today.
President Zelenskyy said: "Andrew and I have agreed we will not replace
communist era rubbish Russian infrastructure, instead we will leapfrog to the
latest technology. We will take advantage of the fact that what the Russians
have destroyed can readily be replaced with the latest, most modern green and
digital infrastructure.
"This innovative initiative will facilitate the world's first green digital
economy and the fastest growing economy in Europe, if not the world."
Dr Forrest said: "Our investment fund will help to step beyond the wire lines
of the past and accelerate digital communications development.
"The US$25bn Ukraine Green Growth Initiative will be the home of professional
and sovereign investment with the aim of helping rebuild Ukraine in one
generation, whilst delivering returns to investors.
"We will seed the Initiative with a US$500 million investment. I invite
professional investors, fund managers and sovereign funds and all who believe
invading another country should now be forever consigned to the historical
garbage bin of humanity's worst mistakes, to join us."
The Ukraine Green Growth Initiative will work with the global investment
community to achieve rapid reconstruction of Ukraine post-hostilities.
A period of consultation for the investment fund has been ongoing since early
March and has included Dr Forrest briefing US President Joe Biden, former UK
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, OECD
Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, and the international business community
including UN Special Envoy Michael Bloomberg, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock
Larry Fink and their teams.
Dr Forrest spent nearly a week in Ukraine and visited Kyiv in June, meeting the
majority of Ukraine's Cabinet including President Zelenskyy, where the strategy
was agreed.
Dr Forrest said: "Ukraine can enter a golden era. By business backing Ukraine,
we're sending a message to the world. I want every government to know that as
soon as hostilities cease global business will be ready to help rebuild
immediately.
"We will build a new future, not simply replace the past. We want Ukrainian
people to know that we will be there with you, helping you to deliver strong
economic growth in Europe."
President Zelenskyy welcomed Dr Forrest's commitment.
The President said: "The whole world can see how Russia, unable to win on the
battlefield, terrorises civil infrastructure. The price of reconstruction is
growing with each new strike. One day the aggressor will pay for everything in
full, but our people cannot wait for electricity and heat for months.
"We need to restore Ukraine now! That is why this project is so timely. I thank
its initiators: Andrew Forrest and Larry Fink of BlackRock for their commitment
and strong signal to the global business community.
"Together we will not only rebuild Ukraine, protecting people's lives, but also
make it an attractive place for global business."
Following an introduction by Dr Forrest in September [
], BlackRock has worked closely with the Ukrainian Government, last week
signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) [
]on a framework for consultative assistance in developing a special platform to
attract private capital for the recovery and support of Ukraine's economy.
The MoU formalised a discussion in early September between President Zelenskyy,
Mr Fink and Dr Forrest around opportunities for attracting public and private
investment in Ukraine.
First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko
after signing the Memorandum said: "It is very important for us to demonstrate
to the whole world that the war does not disallow investment in Ukraine. After
all, investments are the key to the future rapid and effective economic
recovery.
"Therefore, we have high expectations for cooperation with BlackRock's FMA
division. We hope that this "investment platform" will become an effective
mechanism for mobilizing private and public capitals in key sectors of our
economy."
The Forrests' philanthropic organisation Minderoo Foundation has already
contributed millions of dollars to help the Ukrainian people, including funding
the first humanitarian grain shipment out of Ukraine in August, and providing
critical grain storage facilities for farmers whose crops would have otherwise
perished.
Contact:
Michael Best
mbest@tattarang.com
+61 0 407 260 828
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Source: Ukraine Green Growth Initiative
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