The Mayor of Odessa, Gennadii Trukhanov, met with representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD), led by CEO Remi Riou, who has been at the helm since 2016.
During the ongoing war, AFD has intensified its activities in Ukraine by opening an office in Kyiv in 2024. Mr. Riou emphasized that direct engagement with municipalities is a top priority for the agency. Collaboration with the Odessa City Council began in the fall of last year, and by February 2025, a memorandum of cooperation in healthcare and a technical support agreement with City Hospital No. 1 were signed between France and Odessa.
Under the agreement, a Mental Health Center is to be established and equipped. Currently, the tender procedures have been completed, and the documents have been sent for approval to the French side.
Mr. Riou mentioned that his visit to several medical facilities in Odessa preceded the meeting at the city hall, along with planned visits to other hospitals. AFD is also interested in collaborating with the private sector. Traditionally, it implements projects aimed at stability and development, fighting poverty, and ensuring equality. The agency has already invested about 500 million euros in Ukraine and plans to increase its investment volume.
«France's support and your presence in Ukraine give hope to millions of citizens that we have a European future, which is already taking shape. This is not just about investments – it is also moral support for Ukrainians, instilling confidence and strength to continue the fight,» said Odessa Mayor Gennadii Trukhanov.
During the meeting, other social projects were also discussed, including attracting foreign capital for housing construction for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and developing transportation infrastructure.
As a token of appreciation, Gennadii Trukhanov presented Mr. Remi Riou with a statue of the Duke, expressing hopes for the historical significance of this meeting:
«We continue the work initiated by the first mayor of the city, the French Duke de Richelieu».
