The 11th Kyiv International Economic Forum: Ukraine 2.0 – The Power of People held in Kyiv

On October 16, Kyiv hosted the 11th Kyiv International Economic Forum under the topic “Ukraine 2.0: The Power of People”. The event brought together over 1,000 participants – government officials, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, business leaders and top managers of leading companies, entrepreneurs, investors, civil society and experts.

Throughout the day, participants engaged in 15 panel discussions featuring over 100 speakers from Ukraine and abroad. The conversations focused on how to sustain economic growth amid a prolonged war and global transformation – maintaining macroeconomic stability and competitiveness, attracting investment, integrating into global supply chains, developing industry and technology, and strengthening energy resilience. A particular focus was placed on the role of people in the country’s transformation – their leadership, entrepreneurship and ability to make decisions that shape the course of economic change.

The Forum was opened by Oleksii Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, who addressed the participants in a recorded video message.

“The war has forced around 10 million Ukrainians to leave their homes. Direct damages amount to USD 176 billion and economic losses reach USD 589 billion. Despite these challenges, we see the economy growing. Ukrainian businesses have endured, adapted and continue to develop. They keep operating during blackouts and amid disrupted logistics. This flexibility and creativity are our key competitive advantages”, said Oleksii Sobolev.

The Minister added that the government is working to create favorable conditions for business development – ensuring access to finance through EU and international bank