Mine operators and banking institutions are looking for opportunities for cooperation

Yesterday, the SGS with other mine action operators, participated in the roundtable discussing the issues of access to funding in the field of mine, including risks and ways of attracting banking investments for this new industry.

The event was organised by the Humanitarian Demand Center and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The EBRD presented existing financial instruments and business consultations offered in Ukraine by representatives of the EBRD team on financial institutions, teams for financing and development of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as partner financial institutions. Financial institutions in the event were attended by: Credit Agricole Bank, Kredobank, PrivatBank, Procredit Bank, Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine, Ukreximbank, Ukrgasbank, UkrSibbank and others.

The participants of roundtable discussed the needs for financing and existing restrictions for mine operators, insurance mechanisms and their accessibility to the industry, problems of certification, training and maintenance of staff, issues of interaction with international structures, including the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining - GICHD) and the project of evaluation of mine operators.

In an interactive discussion between the parties to opportunities and challenges, it became clear that the issue is important, necessary, but has many debatable and provocative points. That is why SGS is convinced that such meetings should become regular. After all, the sphere of humanitarian demining in Ukraine greatly requires concrete decisions to facilitate restrictions on access to the financing of operators. 

In addition to SGS, in the roundtable took part:

"International Demling Group", "Ukrainian Demining Services", Charitable Foundation "Return to Life", "Ukrainian Demining Agency", "Ukrainian Security", "International Demining Service", "Ukrspecexport" - DK "Ukrobonservice", "PSM Ukraine", " SOLUSNS "," Humanitarian Demining of Ukraine "," Scientific and Production Company Patron Demling "," Nibulon "," Transimpex Demining "," Incopas Demining ".