Kharkiv signs a memorandum with a Dutch construction company

During the meeting, the mayor and Albert ten Brinke, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Ten Brinke Group B.V., discussed further plans for the restoration of Kharkiv and the company's direct involvement in the reconstruction of the city.

According to Albert ten Brinke, his company has over 120 years of history and specialises in the construction of residential complexes, commercial buildings, hospitals, offices and social housing, which is the main focus of the Kharkiv reconstruction process. He also stressed that the company is ready to share its experience and help Kharkiv develop such projects in accordance with the best European practices.

‘We cannot even imagine the horror you are going through. But we can say that we are with you. We never thought this could happen in Europe. We have great respect for Ukrainians, for your strength and heroism. We are doing what we have to do, and this is just a small part of our support. By the way, I would like to point out that 70% of our turnover is in Germany. We are well aware of all the regulations for social housing, as each federal state has its own requirements for its construction. Our main subsidiary is located in Berlin, and every year we build 3,000 to 4,000 residential buildings there. Many of our projects have been implemented in Germany. If possible, next time I would personally show you our work so that you can assess the quality of our construction,’ said Albert ten Brinke.

Ihor Terekhov stressed that despite the war, Kharkiv is actively working on its future recovery.

‘Thank you for all the help we have already received. These are really difficult times in Ukraine. This is due to the fact that there is a war going on. But when peace comes, I am sure there will be a lot of opportunities, and a lot will need to be rebuilt, because a significant part of the housing stock, commercial buildings and critical infrastructure has been destroyed,’ said Igor Terekhov.

The mayor stressed that Kharkiv has been and remains a major scientific and industrial centre of Ukraine, and the city is working on a strategic development plan together with the Norman Foster Foundation. The plan envisages the construction of residential complexes, a science park, industrial zones, and the creation of an economic strategy for the city's recovery with the participation of experts from leading global universities.

‘Today, 160,000 people need housing, as well as another 200,000 IDPs who have moved to Kharkiv. We are considering various programmes to restore housing, including municipal construction with the support of our international partners,’ said Igor Terekhov.