President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the ceremony of signing the document on participation in the financing of the Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV via video conference. This is a new fund created for investments in Ukrainian companies.
The signing took place at the office of the International Finance Corporation in London with the participation of international investment companies.
Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV, L.P., which raised $125 million in the first phase, will support visionary Ukrainian entrepreneurs who lead fast-growing technology and export-oriented companies. This is the first largest fund for Ukraine established since February 24, and the first such structure that will support our state after obtaining the status of a candidate for EU membership in June of this year. The rest of the funds - another $125 million - will be raised in the near future.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the investors for their attention to Ukraine and their support in difficult times, which indicates accession to our victory over the aggressor.
“The struggle for freedom is taking place not only at the front. Thanks to the bravery of our heroes at the front, there are opportunities for other fronts to hold on as well - first of all, this is the economic front. And it is an extremely good signal for the economic front that such esteemed investment players support our state, demonstrate interest in Ukraine,” the Head of State noted.
The President emphasized that our country has significant potential for participation in global economic relations.
"Our agricultural sector, our production potential, primarily engineering, the raw materials sector, including the extraction of rare-earth elements, our gas sector, including convenient gas storage facilities on the border of the European Union countries, our clean "green" energy sector, which has the largest growth potential in the region, – all these are colossal opportunities to guarantee stability," he is convinced.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that investments in Ukraine will contribute to common development, well-being and profit.
The President emphasized the development of the digital sector of Ukraine, as our state has become one of the global leaders in the digitization of public services and social relations.
"Bravery and education, the ability to fight for our interests and find the most convenient way to realize our interests - this is what helps us win. And this is what allows us to be among the best, in particular in the IT sphere," the Head of State emphasized and added that Ukraine has created one of the best tax regimes in the world for the IT industry – "Diia City", and this confirms the effectiveness of the state policy to support the digital sector.
"Now you won't find anywhere in the world the kind of opportunities that Ukraine has: people, geography, access to markets, resources, production culture and constant search for new effective solutions in order to withstand the confrontation with Russia. All these are chances. Chances, in particular, for investors to increase their opportunities," Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The Head of State thanked everyone who joined the initiative to create the Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV.
"The objective need for such funds is a thousand times greater. We understand that. And I believe that this fund is a start, the right start of the right investments right now in Ukraine. In the country that will definitely gain the historically most important victory of our time," the President said.
The document on participation in the financing of the Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV was signed by Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Capital Lenna Koszarny, Managing Director Equity at EBRD Hassan El Khatib, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Roland Siller, Director Private Equity at the FMO Jaap Reinking, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets Jörg Frieden, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund Dennis Johnson, Senior Vice President of Innovative Finance at the Rockefeller Foundation Maria Kozloski, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation Makhtar Diop.