Press release -
Swedfund co-invests for jobs, food security and economic resilience in Ukraine
Swedfund invests EUR 20 million in MHP SE (MHP), a leading Ukrainian producer of poultry and sunflower oil. The investment is done alongside the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction, EBRD and British International Investment, BII, securing a major contribution to safeguarding jobs and building resilience in the Ukrainian food- and agri-sectors during the ongoing war.
MHP employs more than 30,000 people in Ukraine, more than 40 percent of them being women. Because of the war, access to international capital markets is limited in Ukraine, even for financially sound companies. By supporting MHP, an important part of Ukraine’s food industry, and its continued operations, Swedfund, EBRD and BII contribute to Ukraine’s economic resilience and safeguarding much needed local employment- as well as export opportunities.
—The consequences of the war in Ukraine are multi-facetted and by this investment we can maintain employment opportunities, not least for women and veterans, create new jobs, generate tax incomes and export revenues, support local value creation and more sustainable business practices. This is important to support Ukraine’s economic resilience, says Maria Håkansson, CEO of Swedfund.
The investment is part of a EUR 100 million financing package arranged by EBRD, that has a longstanding relation with MHP. The package includes EUR 40 million from the EBRD, EUR 20 million from Swedfund and EUR 30 million from BII. Swedfund’s share of the loan will be used for production efficiency investments such as equipment for sunflower processing and upgrades of agricultural machinery.
In its capital injection to Swedfund for 2025 the Swedish Government earmarked SEK 500 million for investments in Ukraine. Food systems is one of Swedfund’s prioritised sectors to invest in.
—The investment in MHP is a strategic fit that ticks several boxes for Swedfund. Most importantly it can make an important difference during difficult times. We look forward to under the leadership of EBRD advance the company’s sustainability agenda. We will continue looking for both investment opportunities and public sector projects to support the economic development and reconstruction of Ukraine, says Olena Smyrnova, Director and Head of Ukraine, Swedfund.
About MHP
MHP SE is Ukraine’s largest poultry producer and a key player within sunflower oil. Established in 1998, MHP is one of the leading fully integrated agricultural companies in Ukraine and Western Balkans and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Swedfund and Ukraine
For 2025 Swedfund received a capital injection of SEK 1.8 billion from the Swedish Government, whereof up to SEK 500 million was earmarked for investments in the private sector in Ukraine. Swedfund has earlier invested into the Ukrainian IT sector and energy sector. Moreover, Swedfund has more than 30 projects supporting the public sector with feasibility studies within critical infrastructure and recovery. For example, energy, water, wastewater and digitalisation. A standout example is a feasibility study for a 112 emergency response system, developed with Ukraine’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, now being funded by the EIB. Earlier in 2025 Swedfund opened a local office in Kyiv.
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About Swedfund
Swedfund is Sweden’s development finance institution with the mission to reduce poverty through sustainable investments in developing countries. Swedfund plays an important role in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement on climate. Swedfund shares the same goal as development cooperation in general, but the tools Swedfund uses are different. Swedfund has two instruments to fulfil its mission: sustainable investments in the private sector and technical feasibility studies through the Project Accelerator targeting the public sector.
Swedfund's investments contribute to the creation of decent jobs and increased access to essential products and services such as electricity and food. Swedfund is a long-term investor and is additional and catalytic through its investments and by mobilising private capital. Swedfund's feasibility studies support sustainable public infrastructure development, trade, and export opportunities for Swedish solutions.
We are part of Swedish development cooperation, and we measure and report all our results. As a state-owned company, Swedfund is managed by the Ministry of Finance and financed through portfolio reflows and annual capital injections for which the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is responsible.
For more information: please visit www.swedfund.se/en
