Council backs motion to boost economic ties with Ukraine following Leader's visit

Cambridgeshire County Council has passed a motion to support businesses and individuals across the county in building stronger economic ties with Ukraine.

The motion, brought to full Council by Cllr Nethsingha, follows her recent trip to Ukraine, which focused on understanding the country's economic resilience and identifying opportunities for partnership with Cambridgeshire businesses. During the visit, Cllr Nethsingha met with Ukrainian business leaders and saw first-hand the pace of technological innovation taking place across the country, despite the continuing conflict with Russia.

Having heard from Cllr Nethsingha about the scale of opportunity in Ukraine, and the barriers that many investors and companies face in understanding how to engage with it, councillors voted in support of the motion. The Council will now work to help businesses and individuals across Cambridgeshire access and understand these opportunities. This includes practical support for investors and companies interested in forming partnerships with Ukrainian counterparts, as well as recognition of the role that Ukrainians living in Cambridgeshire can play in building those connections.

Speaking after the motion was passed, Cllr Nethsingha said:

"Ukraine has demonstrated extraordinary resilience over the past four years in resisting Putin's invasion. What struck me most was the speed and scale of technological advance taking place there. Ukrainian businesses are genuinely at the cutting edge.

"But I know that investors and companies here in Cambridgeshire may be nervous about how to partner with business leaders and companies in Ukraine. I'm pleased that the Council has backed this motion supporting businesses and individuals across Cambridgeshire to understand the opportunities available. This is both for investors at a business level, and for Ukrainians living in Cambridgeshire at an individual level."