He noted that the war has had a significant impact on the company's business – "Metinvest" has lost 50% of its assets. Previously, annual investments in the development of enterprises exceeded $1 billion, but now this figure has decreased to about $300 million.
"We are currently in survival mode. We cannot plan for the next five to seven years as we always did," Vодовиз explained.
In order to attract investments, according to him, it is necessary not only to end the war but also to develop democratic institutions, ensure transparency in the judicial system, and protect investors' rights. Additionally, it is important to consider Ukrainian interests on the path to EU membership.
"Right now, our number one opportunity is joining the European Union. However, our negotiators believe that we must accept all directives provided by the EU. This is a mistaken position, as our economy has suffered from the war, and we definitely need to negotiate for some preferences. We certainly need to implement reforms, but in return, we should ask for funding, as all countries that joined the EU have done. Therefore, we kindly ask both the government and the negotiating teams to pay attention to this. Attracting funds as part of joining the EU is the largest niche we want to be part of. And the business community is ready to support this," he emphasized.
One of the key problems for Ukrainian businesses remains the shortage of personnel due to the mass exodus of Ukrainians abroad. According to Vодовиз, around 8 million Ukrainians, mostly middle-level specialists, have left, and they need to be brought back.
"But to create incentives for them to return, there must be infrastructure. We will build this infrastructure in the cities where we operate. People will come back if their children can attend a decent school, if there are parks in the city, if it is safe, and if there is adequate housing. We will definitely focus on these issues," he stressed.
Another important condition for investments, according to Vодовиз, is a stable tax system.
"I understand that 51% of our budget is financed by donors, and when pockets are empty, the government has no choice but to raise taxes. However, in no country in the world has raising taxes led to a filled budget. We will only close the gap for a few months. After that, legitimate businesses will pay taxes, while other companies will go underground or shut down. And that is not a solution. Therefore, we need to pay attention to our tax legislation. No one has attracted investments to a country by raising taxes, even in wartime," he noted.