Poland Introduces State Insurance for Companies Operating in Ukraine for the First Time in Europe
The Polish government has announced a state insurance program for companies starting businesses in Ukraine. This was reported by Jadwiga Emilewicz, Deputy Minister for European Union Funds and Regional Policy, according to Polskie Radio.
This decision comes after a Russian missile struck a window manufacturing factory owned by the Polish company Fakro in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Tuesday. The impact caused a fire that destroyed production facilities and 2,000 windows, as reported by Fakro. The losses from the Russian strike are estimated at 30 million zlotys (6.5 million euros), said Fakro's CEO, Ryszard Florek.
Emilewicz emphasized that this strike demonstrated the need for "national and international insurance guarantees" for private contractors in the event of such attacks, underscoring Poland's preparedness to mitigate risks for Polish companies doing business in Ukraine's conflict zone through a state insurance program.
Jadwiga Emilewicz, who also serves as the authorized representative of the Polish government for Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in development, stated, "Unfortunately, tragedies are happening in a country that has suffered from war and Russian aggression, as was the case yesterday at the Fakro window factory."
She noted that this is another example of "Russia's complete disregard for international law and barbarism." Emilewicz mentioned that at least one person was killed as a result of the overnight attack on Lviv's industrial district.
Emilewicz also pointed out that Poland was the "first country in Europe to propose such a scheme" and affirmed that further measures would be taken for Polish firms in Ukraine.
"Above all, we want this war to end so that Polish business and the Polish economy can make a significant contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine on terms that are favorable to us," stated Jadwiga Emilewicz.
There are approximately 660 Polish companies operating in Ukraine, ranging from the furniture and construction industries to the textile sector. Meanwhile, according to the Polish government's data, about 2,000 Polish companies in industries such as construction, energy, agri-food, pharmaceuticals, and IT have expressed their interest in projects aimed at Ukraine's recovery.