Ruukki and SSAB together at ReBuild Ukraine conference

Dec. 2, 2024

Ruukki and SSAB joined forces and participated together at the Fourth International Exhibition and Conference ReBuild Ukraine in Warsaw. The event, held in mid-November, brought together a few hundred companies and organizations from around the world to discuss the construction industry and the reconstruction of the energy sector in Ukraine. The conference’s full agenda included presentations and panel discussions with the government and municipalities of Ukraine.

Ruukki was represented at the conference by Adam Korol, Senior Vice President, Building Envelopes, Ruukki and Yuriy Obukh, Business Director, Ruukki Ukraine. From SSAB, Przemysław Beciński, Area Sales Manager, SSAB Europe and Michał Nowak, Key Account Manager, SSAB Special Steels, were present.

Both of our companies had a good opportunity to meet and discuss the construction industry in Ukraine. Ruukki’s steel-based building products can be of great help in the rapid reconstruction of industrial, commercial and residential buildings. SSAB’s wide portfolio of steels, on the other hand, meets the requirements of different industries, not just construction.

"Since the outbreak of the war, Ruukki has provided real and concrete support. This is particularly important for us, as we have our own production facility in Kyiv. When the war began, the factory was shut down and Ruukki offered a group of Ukrainian colleagues and their families shelter in Poland. Now the factory is back in operation, and some of the roofing products manufactured there have already been donated a couple of times to the areas hardest hit by the war," says Adam Korol.

"This conference once again highlights the scope of the needs and the importance of all stakeholders committing to reconstructing Ukraine. Thanks to our long-term presence and our own production facility, we know these markets very well and are prepared as an organization to actively support recovery processes. I am really happy to meet other Nordic companies that are involved in supporting Ukraine and, above all, to talk to the Ukrainian authorities and business representatives," Adam continues.

The two-day event served as a platform for key stakeholders, such as the government, international financial institutions and potential business partners, to engage and promote cooperation on reconstruction of Ukraine. The participants strongly emphasized the importance of a sustainable approach to reconstruction and the need to mobilize economic and technological means.

"Meetings with representatives of the largest municipalities in Ukraine gave me a deeper understanding of the areas’ current needs and reconstruction projects. Recently, I have also attended another event that demonstrates international commitment to the recovery of the Ukrainian construction industry. The additional information and new contact persons are very useful, as the reconstruction processes for such a large operation are very complex and many things are still unclear," says Yuriy Obukh.