US President Biden Names Penny Pritzker As Special Representative For Ukraine’s Economic Recovery

After the announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Pritzker would be key to America's determination to see that Ukraine not only survives but thrives, standing on its own.

Former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker

Source : Getty

New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Thursday appointed former Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker as special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery.

Pritzker served as secretary of the US Commerce Department under President Barack Obama from June 2013 to January 2017. 

After the announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Pritzker would be key to America's determination to see that Ukraine not only survives but thrives, standing on its own.

In a statement, Blinken said that Pritzker would work with the Ukrainian government, the G7, the EU, international financial institutions, international partners, and one of our great assets – the American private sector – to help forge Ukraine’s future as a prosperous, secure, European democracy.

"Special Representative Pritzker will drive efforts to shape donor priorities through the Multi-Agency Donor Coordination Platform to align them with Ukraine’s needs and to galvanize international partners to increase their support for Ukraine," Blinken said.

Pritzker would also work closely with the Ukrainian government as it intensifies reforms needed to win the future, open export markets, mobilize foreign direct investment, and catalyze economic recovery, the statement said.

According to Blinkin, Special Representative Pritzker’s "extensive private sector experience, service as Secretary of Commerce, and deep personal connection to Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora make her uniquely qualified for this task."

"Tracing their roots to the village of Velyki Pritsky outside of Kyiv, her family owned a grain store before emigrating the United States more than 100 years ago. Special Representative Pritzker is a deeply committed leader trusted across the political spectrum for her proven track record of delivering positive outcomes and results," he said.

"Pritzker’s appointment demonstrates the US's commitment to strengthen Ukraine’s European future and follows new economic and security commitments announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London and in Vilnius by the G7+ and NATO," he further stated.

Blinked added that Pritzker's role would build on the steadfast work of the State Department, USAID, the Commerce Department, and other agencies to accelerate Ukraine’s economic transformation.