LVIV, Ukraine – Today U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Executive Officer Scott Nathan traveled to Ukraine to deepen DFC’s engagement with the Ukrainian business community, advance potential investment opportunities, and announce new DFC support for Bank Lviv and the Ukrainian Catholic University. He met with U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink and a range of private sector leaders. DFC CEO Nathan conveyed unwavering U.S. support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine. 

“DFC is committed to supporting the private sector in Ukraine,” said DFC CEO Scott Nathan. “We were here before the war. We are here now, and we will be here after this horrible and illegal war ends. We are eager to work together to help address the country’s urgent development needs and we look forward to helping plan for Ukraine’s long-term recovery.”

“The United States continues to stand with Ukraine by providing the humanitarian, economic, and security assistance Ukraine needs to defend itself from Russia’s barbaric aggression and ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure,” said U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink. “DFC’s support to Ukraine demonstrates how the United States can enable the private sector to help Ukraine endure and, ultimately, prevail."

Joined by Ambassador Brink, Bank Lviv CEO Ashot Abrahamyan, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Ukraine Mission Director Jim Hope, DFC CEO Nathan announced a $15 million, 10-year loan portfolio guaranty with Bank Lviv. The guaranty will support micro, small, and medium sized businesses in the region, including in the agricultural sector. USAID is complementing the loan portfolio guaranty by continuing to provide technical assistance to Ukrainian businesses to ensure that they remain competitive in local and regional markets.  

DFC CEO Nathan and Ambassador Brink then joined Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) Rector Bogdan Prach to announce a DFC technical assistance grant to bolster curriculum offerings specific to Ukraine’s recovery, including living through the trauma of conflict, and the post-conflict recovery. The grant builds upon a loan DFC provided UCU in 2019 and will position the University to best serve students and Ukrainian society in the years ahead. It will also enable UCU to modernize its operating systems, delivering a higher-quality educational experience to its students. 

Later, DFC CEO Nathan and Ambassador Brink were hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce where they met with private sector leaders to learn about the challenges they face and highlight DFC’s investment tools for mobilizing private capital.  

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U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) partners with the private sector to finance solutions to the most critical challenges facing the developing world today. We invest across sectors including energy, healthcare, critical infrastructure, and technology. DFC also provides financing for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in order to create jobs in emerging markets. DFC investments adhere to high standards and respect the environment, human rights, and worker rights.

LINK: https://www.dfc.gov/media/press-releases/dfc-ceo-travels-lviv-ukraine-announces-new-projects-support-small-businesses