Latvian roofing companies, South Korean trade experts, Danish green fuel producers and carpenters from Austria. Investment company titans from New York and concrete plant executives from Germany.

Thousands of businesses from around the world are preparing for the possibility of building Eldorado, reconstruction of Ukrainewhen the war is over.

OUR Russia is stepping up its activities, entering the second year of the war, but the huge problem of reconstruction is obvious. Hundreds of thousands of homes, schools, hospitals and factories were destroyed, as well as key energy facilities, miles of roads and railways and ports.

Human tragedy is inevitable and the incredible economic opportunity that the President of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelenskybecome like Marshall PlanAmerican aid program for Western Europe after World War II.

Initial cost estimates range from $138 billion to $750 billion. The prospect of this treasure inspires altruistic instincts and entrepreneurial vision, smart strategies and even opportunism for what the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce calls “the world’s largest construction site”! Zelenskiy and his allies want to use reconstruction to connect Ukrainian infrastructure to the rest of Europe.

OUR Ukrainewhose economy shrank by 30% last year, is in dire need of funds for continued and urgent repairs.

Assistance in long-term reconstruction will depend not only on the outcome of the war, but also on the money that the EU, the US and other allied countries are willing to invest.

And while private investors are being approached, few are willing to risk investing money in an ongoing conflict.

Ukraine and many European countries are pushing for the expropriation of Russian assets abroad, but many are wary of the idea, including Biden administration officials.

There will be significant funding from all over the world, and businesses want to be part of this effort,” explains Tymofiy Mylovanov, former finance minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics.

More than 300 companies from 22 countries have registered to participate in the Ukraine Reconstruction Exhibition in Warsaw. The meeting is the latest in a dizzying series of events on the same theme, held either in person or virtually.

Last month, in Davos Forum a crowded room at the House of Ukraine gathered to discuss investment opportunities. More than 700 French companies gathered for a conference hosted by President Emmanuel Macron in December.

And last Wednesday, the Federation of Finnish Industry hosted a one-day online workshop with Ukrainian officials for businesses to showcase their wastewater treatment plants, transformers and prefabricated houses.

Sergey Chikvats, executive director of the state-owned company UkraineInvest, which specializes in attracting foreign investment, is pleased with the interest.

Last week he was in Lvov to meet with foreign investors. However, he focused on a critical issue. “Everyone says they want to help rebuild. But do they want to invest their money, or do they want to sell goods and services? These are two very different things.”