Kyiv, September 19, 2026: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for stronger economic cooperation among countries in the Carpathian region, emphasizing investment, industrial development, infrastructure and job creation during the newly launched Carpathian Integration Initiative.

Speaking to participants of the Carpathian Economic Forum on September 18, Zelenskyy said the initiative should translate regional cooperation into practical economic projects and opportunities. He said the Carpathian countries should work toward stronger industries, increased investment and new employment opportunities across the region.

Regional Investment Portfolio Reaches Nearly €40 Billion

According to Zelenskyy’s address, the eight participating countries have assembled a common portfolio containing 95 investment projects valued at around €40 billion.

More than 50 agreements worth over €1 billion were also prepared for signing during the economic component of the summit. The Ukrainian president described the development as an initial step toward presenting the wider Carpathian region as a connected economic market.

The official Carpathian 8 Summit website separately lists dozens of investment opportunities across energy, transportation, logistics, manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare and technology.

Energy Emerges as a Major Area of Cooperation

Energy projects account for roughly half of the investment portfolio highlighted by Zelenskyy.

The projects include solar and wind power, energy-storage systems, electricity interconnectors and underground gas-storage facilities. Ukraine has also proposed establishing a regional wind-energy cluster with a planned capacity of 1.5 gigawatts.

Zelenskyy said the region could develop an expanded role in Europe’s energy system rather than functioning primarily as a transit area. His comments place energy infrastructure and cross-border connectivity among the central economic themes of the initiative.

Transport and Industrial Development on the Agenda

Infrastructure is another major component of the proposed regional cooperation.

The Ukrainian president pointed to plans involving transport corridors, logistics hubs, terminals, processing facilities, storage infrastructure and industrial production. He argued that existing cross-border transport links could be developed into more permanent regional infrastructure.

The summit’s investment catalogue includes projects covering transport and logistics, industry and manufacturing, infrastructure and real estate, agrifood, healthcare and construction materials.

Eight Countries Join the New Regional Format

The inaugural Carpathian Summit is bringing together countries connected to the wider Carpathian region. Ukraine’s presidential office identified Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria and Serbia as participants in the new format, with European Union institutions also involved in the summit’s broader program.

The three-day Carpathian 8 Summit is being held from September 18 to 20, 2026, in and around Bukovel in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region. The official summit program includes political discussions as well as business and investment activities.

Focus on Regional Communities

Zelenskyy also emphasized the role of local governments and communities in the initiative. According to his address, around 170 representatives of Carpathian regions participated in the economic forum.

Issues including roads, environmental protection, demographic challenges and regional development were identified as areas where cooperation between local communities could play an important role.

The summit declaration also emphasizes long-term security, stability, sustainable development, good governance and deeper cooperation across the Carpathian region.

A New Economic Cooperation Framework

The Carpathian Integration Initiative is being presented as a framework intended to connect economic development with cross-border infrastructure, energy cooperation and regional investment.

For businesses and investors, the organizers are using the summit to showcase projects and partnerships across the participating countries. The official summit platform says its Investment Lab features 90 projects seeking investment from C8 partners, covering several economic sectors.

Zelenskyy said the objective should ultimately be measurable through economic activity, investment and employment rather than cooperation alone. He described the Carpathian Initiative as a long-term regional format that Ukraine expects to continue beyond the inaugural summit.

Key Highlights

• The first Carpathian 8 Summit is being held in Ukraine from September 18–20, 2026.
• Eight countries are participating in the regional format.
• A portfolio of 95 projects worth about €40 billion has been presented.
• More than 50 agreements worth over €1 billion were prepared for signing.
• Energy represents roughly half of the investment portfolio.
• A proposed 1.5 GW Carpathian wind-energy cluster is among the projects discussed.
• Transport, logistics, manufacturing and regional infrastructure are also major areas of focus.