On October 13, 2026, the France–Ukraine Municipal Innovation Forum, titled “Sustainable Cities: A Franco-Ukrainian Partnership for Territorial Modernization and Resilience,” took place in Nice, France. The Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) served as a co-organizer of the event on the Ukrainian side.
Organized by the ULIE in collaboration with the AFUCA association and with the participation of Ukraine’s Honorary Consuls in Nice and Monaco, the forum brought together representatives from Ukrainian and French municipalities, businesses, government agencies, and international organizations. Key topics included the resilience of critical infrastructure, energy, municipal services, and concrete opportunities for economic cooperation.
The opening ceremony was attended by Ukraine’s Ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko, Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Jean-Marie Girier, a representative of the Mayor of Nice Éric Mary, Departmental Councilor Bernard Asso, a representative of CCI Nice Côte d’Azur Christophe Gamon, and Ukraine’s Honorary Consul in Nice Iryna Podyriako-Bourdel.
As reported by Ukrinform, Ukraine’s Ambassador to France Vadym Omelchenko emphasized: “Reconstruction does not wait for the war to end. It begins the moment we restore people’s ability to live, and we have learned to do this even under the most difficult conditions.“
Speaking about the experience of Ukrainian communities in ensuring resilience, Prefect Jean-Marie Girier noted: “This experience is particularly valuable to us because the uncertain world we live in compels us to prepare as well.” USPP: A Forum Marking the Start of a Long-Term Partnership.
Oleksandr Kamenets spoke on behalf of the ULIE at the opening ceremony. He emphasized that Ukraine’s recovery requires not only funding but also technologies, expertise, and reliable partners—particularly in the fields of energy, transport, water supply, waste management, and industrial modernization.
“For the ULIE, this forum is not a one-off event. We view it as the beginning of long-term cooperation and new ties between Ukrainian and French communities and the business sector,” Oleksandr Kamenets stressed.
A New Industrial Model and Joint Projects
Oleksandr Kamenets, who also serves as President of the European Facilitation Platform (Brussels, Belgium), spoke during a panel discussion focused on critical infrastructure resilience, energy, and technological solutions for cities. The discussion involved representatives from French and Ukrainian businesses, the energy sector, and economic development institutions.
Citing the international RDNA5 assessment, the ULIE representative noted that Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction needs over the next decade are estimated at nearly $588 billion. Specifically, transport accounts for over $96 billion, energy for nearly $91 billion, and industry and trade for over $63 billion.
“For the ULIE, this sends a key signal: Ukraine needs more than just infrastructure restoration. We need a new industrial model,” he emphasized. According to Oleksandr Kamenets, cooperation with France should extend beyond the supply of finished equipment to encompass joint technology development, production localization, job creation, and long-term investment projects. He summarized this approach with the motto: “Developed together — produced together — implemented together.” His address placed particular emphasis on attracting private capital, establishing transparent rules for investors, ensuring investment protection, and providing war risk insurance. “We must build a portfolio of concrete projects,” the ULIE representative urged.“
Practical Follow-up to Cooperation
The forum’s agenda covered crisis management, infrastructure resilience, and the development of partnerships between communities. Professional visits to French enterprises and infrastructure facilities—including RAGNI, Haliotis 2, and the ARIANEO waste-to-energy complex—served as a practical complement to the discussions.
For the ULIE helping to organize the forum marked another step toward fostering direct economic ties between Ukraine and France. The next objective is to transform the contacts established during the event into joint investment, industrial, and municipal projects.
