Ukraine raises Swiss investment for railway development
“In the presence of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, JSC Ukrzaliznytsia and Stadler CIS AG, Stadler Rail AG (Switzerland) and the Swiss Export Risk Insurance Agency SERV, which determines the principles of cooperation and the mechanism of joint work of the parties on the development of the railway transport sector of Ukraine,” the President’s Office informs.
During a meeting with President of the Stadler Rail AG Board of Directors Peter Spuhler and CEO of Stadler CIS AG Alexander Luft, President Zelensky said that the memorandum was a great signal to the citizens of Ukraine and Switzerland about cooperation.
According to Alexander Luft, for the first time in history, export financing from Switzerland is attracted at the state level, which will be aimed at the development of Ukraine's railway transport, including the renewal of the train fleet.
As the President’s Office notes, the signing of the document starts the opening of export financing of the Swiss Confederation for Ukraine. Funds of up to EUR 500 million will go to the development of the railway sector. The cooperation involves not only the purchase of trains, but also the localization of Stadler production through the construction of a new plant in Ukraine.
The Head of State reminded that the City Express project for the development of suburban railway services was being launched in the framework of the national Great Construction program.
According to Minister of Infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, in the framework of cooperation with Stadler it is planned to purchase 30 suburban electric trains manufactured by this company for Kyiv, another 30 will be distributed between Kharkiv and Dnipro.
In addition, the memorandum refers to 20 new regional electric trains and 10 long-distance electric trains manufactured by Stadler to upgrade the rolling stock of Ukrzaliznytsia.
Photo credit: President’s Office
ol
