Business Mission to Ukraine on the Occasion of the Carpathian Integration Initiative Summit

From 18 to 20 September 2026, the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) organized a business mission to Bukovel in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region on the occasion of the Carpathian Integration Initiative Summit, also known as the Carpathian 8 Summit (C8). The mission aimed to help Slovak companies establish business contacts, showcase their products and solutions, and identify opportunities for cooperation on investment and cross-border projects.

Six Slovak companies participated in the business mission, primarily representing rail transport and logistics, mechanical engineering, the defense industry, ICT, and equipment supply for the foodservice sector.

The event brought together representatives of the public sector, local and regional authorities, the business community and investment institutions from the Carpathian Eight countries – Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Discussions focused on strengthening regional economic and cross-border cooperation, promoting investment and fostering closer links between local and regional authorities, businesses and expert institutions.

SARIO worked closely with its partner investment promotion agency, UkraineInvest, which organized the event, in preparing and carrying out the business mission. SARIO also coordinated the Slovak national stand at the accompanying C8 EXPO exhibition. The stand provided a venue for showcasing Slovakia’s business and investment potential and hosting B2B meetings between Slovak companies and selected Ukrainian counterparts. The Slovak national stand was visited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi, and Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Oleksandr Kravchenko.

The conference programme focused primarily on developing joint investment opportunities and strengthening energy cooperation. Vladimír Šimoňák, State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, took part in discussions on translating regional potential into concrete investments and building an interconnected and resilient regional energy system.

A key outcome of the summit was the endorsement of the Joint Declaration on the Carpathian Investment Coalition by participating investment promotion and partner agencies from all eight C8 countries, including SARIO on behalf of the Slovak Republic. The declaration sets out a shared intention to establish a voluntary platform for mapping investment potential, preparing and connecting projects across borders, organizing B2B and B2G meetings, and conducting joint investor outreach. The platform aims to bring together businesses, public institutions, financial partners and investors, while supporting the region’s deeper integration into European and global value chains.

The business mission also gave Slovak companies an opportunity to hold direct talks with Ukrainian partners and learn more about opportunities in the Ukrainian market. The Carpathian Integration Initiative provides a platform for developing business partnerships and involving Slovak companies in regional projects covering transport, energy, investment, cross-border trade and Ukraine’s reconstruction.

This was SARIO’s third business mission to Ukraine in 2026, underscoring the importance of the Ukrainian market and cooperation with Ukrainian partners. SARIO remains committed to creating opportunities for Slovak companies to establish business contacts, develop partnerships and participate in projects supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and development.