We talked with Kamil Dziukiewicz, the starosta of the Jarosław district, about the importance of Podkarpacie as a potential center of cooperation with Ukraine, the search for locations for military equipment factories and the prospects related to the future reconstruction of the country of our eastern neighbors.
Michał Misiura, Bankier.pl: Jarosław County borders Ukraine. What is the situation across the eastern border and mutual relations like?
Kamil Dziukiewicz, starosta of the Jarosław district: We are in constant contact with our partners from Ukraine. Just yesterday I hosted a delegation from Uzhhorod in Zakarpattia in my office. We talked about various issues. As my guest reported, after the election
President of the United States Donald Trump, the situation in Ukraine has changed somewhat. Initially, the expectations of our eastern neighbors were different, but the international reaction to recent events has sown concern in them. Currently, he claims that the mood there – if it can be said that – is improving day by day. However, information about the reconstruction of Ukraine is still fragmentary. We, as the Yaroslavl district, directly bordering Ukraine, have this information on an ongoing basis and from the so-called first hand.
From the very beginning of the war, we became a center of assistance for Ukrainians, actively supporting them. Today, although this assistance looks completely different than it did three years ago, our neighbors can still count on us, and contact with us is just as important to them as it is to us. Returning to the topic of rebuilding their country, Ukrainians primarily want the war to end. Sometimes we hear that President Zelensky will fight to the end, but in conversations with Ukrainians themselves, it is clear that they most want a quick peace. One of the representatives of the local authorities told me that Ukrainians are looking for a location for the production of various equipment, such as drones. They are considering locating it in Podkarpacie, and preferably in our district. These are still preliminary talks, completely behind the scenes, but they already indicate the direction of future cooperation.
How can business cooperation between Poland and Ukraine proceed? Where do you see opportunities?
There is certainly great potential in the real estate and construction sectors. Our companies have considerable experience and are interested in participating in every stage of Ukraine's reconstruction. However, the key issue is first and foremost achieving political peace and ending the war. Only then will specific economic activities finally be able to begin.
What are the prospects for this peace? How do the Ukrainians you talk to view it?
Opinions vary. People base their views on information from various media sources, which often differ significantly. However, everyone hopes for the war to end as soon as possible. We also want this, especially as a region directly bordering Ukraine. Especially since we see the real consequences of the war. Numerous convoys escorted by the police pass through our areas, which generates costs. But we also see positive aspects – Ukrainians who live in our region work, pay taxes, buy apartments and send their children to schools, thus supporting the local economy.
There has been no shortage of opinions in the public sphere that despite Polish aid for Ukraine, when the war ends, German companies will make money on contracts for the reconstruction of that country. How do you see it?
If German companies were better than Polish ones, they would not have employed our compatriots since at least the 1990s. I believe that Polish companies should participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Initially, there were even such talks. However, the geopolitical situation is constantly changing. I am always in favor of investments being carried out by companies from Poland, and preferably from our region, from Podkarpacie.
