Bulgaria to contribute 100,000 euro to a programme for industrial recovery of Ukraine

The Council of Ministers has approved Bulgaria's participation in the UN Industrial Development Organisation's Green Programme for the Industrial Recovery of Ukraine, the Cabinet press office said on February 7.

The programme was launched this year, and UNIDO's ambitions are to mobilise at least 200 million euros for its implementation. Bulgaria will join the programme with a voluntary financial contribution of 100,000 euros. The funding will be provided from the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The objective of the programme is to help create an enabling environment for the green recovery of Ukraine's industry, create jobs, achieve sustainable economic growth and strengthen the productivity and competitiveness of priority industrial sectors with high growth potential and attractiveness for investment. The programme will be implemented in the western part of the country where the vast majority of internally displaced people (IDPs) are concentrated, which increases the need for job creation and infrastructure expansion.

Bulgaria will participate in a project on "Economic empowerment of youth, women and IDPs through entrepreneurship". The project provides for support to two training institutions as well as direct support to 50 persons in the target group willing to develop entrepreneurial activities and build knowledge and skills to start their own businesses. The aim of the project is to create at least 150 full-time jobs.