Can reconstruction capital turn corrosive? Investment governance risks and the Ukraine challenge
How can Ukraine attract the capital needed for reconstruction while protecting its institutions? The Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) together with the Institute of Legislative Ideas (ILI), brings together researchers, Ukrainian policy experts, and European practitioners to discuss corrosive capital, investment governance risks, and foreign direct investment screening.
As Ukraine plans for recovery amid Russia’s ongoing war, attracting investment is essential. But some investments can give their backers influence over public decisions, even when they operate within the law. At this event, researchers, Ukrainian policy experts and European practitioners will explore this risk, known as “corrosive capital,” and ask how Ukraine can welcome investment while protecting the institutions on which its future depends.
Nearly 100 companies have been nationalised under Ukraine’s wartime legal framework, bringing questions of national security and undue influence into sharp focus. The discussion will also look at proposed rules for screening foreign investment, drawing on the Institute of Legislative Ideas’ work in this area. How Ukraine addresses these risks matters both for its recovery and for its path toward EU membership.
Special guest
Tetiana Khutor
Khutor is Chairwoman and co-founder of the Institute of Legislative Ideas (ILI) and a Ukrainian legal and policy expert specializing in economic security, sanctions policy, asset recovery, and countering hostile economic influence. She has more than 10 years of experience in legislative development and public policy and previously served as Legislative Director to the Chair of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Anti-Corruption Committee.
Alongside her policy work, Tetiana is a Senior Lecturer at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and served as a Visiting Professor of Practice at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University in the United States.
Her current work focuses on strengthening Ukraine’s economic security architecture, including foreign investment screening, sanctions enforcement, asset recovery and management, and mechanisms to counter Russian and other hostile economic influence.
Panel discussion
After Tetiana Khutor’s presentation, she will be joining the panel discussion on “From Reactive to Preventive: Building an Investment-Screening Architecture for Ukraine’s Reconstruction.” The panel will explore how Ukraine can develop a more preventive and resilient investment-screening framework as reconstruction advances.
The panel will feature:
Lars Henriksson
Henriksson is a Professor of Law at the Stockholm School of Economics. His background in both economics and law enables his research and practice to cover a wide range of areas including market law, antitrust and competition law, contract law, EU law, company law and international trade law. He is particularly interested in regulated markets and the legal challenges they present.
Gunnar Ihren
Ihren is Group Manager of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Unit at the Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP), Sweden's authority for screening foreign investments that may affect national security. He joined ISP as an analyst in May 2023, six months before the Swedish FDI Screening Act entered into force, and has been part of building Sweden's investment screening regime from the start. His work focuses on identifying and assessing foreign investments that could pose risks to Swedish security and public order, a core line of defence against corrosive capital. Gunnar holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.). Outside his professional role, he is active in Sweden's voluntary defence movement and serves on the board of the Association of Stockholm County Defence Committee (Förbundet Stockholms Läns Försvarskommitté).
Karin Kronhöffer
Kronhöffer is Chief Strategy & Communications Officer at Swedfund. She has extensive experience in strategy development, international relations and public administration and has held senior positions at Swedfund since 2016. She has previously worked within the Swedish Government Offices and international organisations, including the United Nations.
Registration
Attendance is free, but registration is required. To attend the event, please complete your registration by [clicking here].
Please note: Venue details will be shared exclusively with confirmed attendees.
Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us at site@hhs.se.
Program
Photo: Shutterstock
