It is crucial that Ukraine`s business is prepared for the upcoming reconstruction efforts and international aid inflow. Building trust will be key, and it all starts with integrity, transparency and compliance measures.
These points were highlighted by Allan Pagh Kristensen, the Head of the European Union Anti-Corruption Initiative (EUACI), during the Annual General Meeting of the UNIC members «Reconstruction Based on Integrity: the Road to a New Ukraine» held in Kyiv on 11 May.
The meeting was focused on Ukraine’s recovery and its integration into the world's leading economic communities, in particular its accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It became the first event of the Business Integrity Month, a series of events hosted by the Ukrainian Network of Integrity and Compliance (UNIC) dedicated to recovering Ukraine based on integrity. The event involved UNIC members, representatives of Ukrainian business, international partners and leading industry experts.
During the discussion ‘Business Integrity and its Value in Reconstruction’, the Head of the EUACI explained that the program cooperates with national and local authorities, civil society and media to empower their efforts in fighting corruption and enhancing capacity building.
‘Our stakeholders form the space within which the private sector is working. There is no doubt that civil society and media will play an extremely important role in facilitating a more transparent society with less corruption. Holding not only the authorities accountable but also holding the private sector and businesses accountable will be vital for integrity and transparency in the reconstruction process and will also facilitate Ukraine’s EU integration,’ Allan Pagh Kristensen emphasized.
The panelists also highlighted the importance of conducting business with integrity as one of the main criteria for obtaining financing for reconstruction. They emphasized the need of developing an anti-corruption culture and compliance in private sector. Furthermore, the event focused on discussing the role and tasks of businesses in the reconstruction, ensuring transparency, equal opportunities, and minimizing corruption risks were discussed.
The event was organized with the support of the United Nations Development Program in Ukraine, the Government of Japan and the EU Anti-Corruption Initiative, as well as expert support from the OECD.
