The CEO of Interpipe called metallurgy the driving force behind the country’s post-war reconstruction, provided that rapid European integration and a coordinated energy policy are in place

This week, Berlin became a platform for discussing key issues of economic cooperation between Ukraine and Germany within the framework of the 8th German-Ukrainian Economic Forum. The event brought together business representatives and high-ranking officials from both countries, who focused on the topics of economic sustainability, the role of the private sector in Ukraine’s reconstruction, the transformation of the defense industry, and promising areas of bilateral cooperation.

The industrial company Interpipe, led by CEO Luca Zanotti, joined the forum and participated in a business panel alongside German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Katerina Reiche and Ukrainian Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Oleksiy Sobolev. The participants discussed the prospects for the development of the Ukrainian economy with an emphasis on European integration and the possibility of European support for the manufacturing, energy, and high-tech sectors.

In his speech, Zanotti emphasized the role of metallurgy in the context of war and post-war reconstruction.

“Ukrainian steelmakers have demonstrated extraordinary resilience, which is a defining feature of the Ukrainian people. However, in order to develop and become one of the drivers of reconstruction, Ukraine needs smooth and rapid integration into Europe and a coordinated energy policy,” he said.

Separately, the head of Interpipe drew attention to the issues of competitiveness and the labor market.

“It is also important to ensure a level playing field with China in the Ukrainian market and to solve the problem of labor shortages. In this context, in my opinion, industry as a whole can play an important role in reintegrating demobilized veterans into civilian life,” added Luca Zanotti.

Interpipe has confirmed its strategic course of continuous investment and modernization of production even in wartime. Maintaining positions in international markets and further scaling the business are impossible without systematic equipment upgrades and the creation of unique products, emphasized Vitaliy Sueta, the company’s director of products and resources.