1989: A LOOK BACK: Doing business with Ukraine (12/31/89)

1989: A LOOK BACK

Doing business with Ukraine

Even in the realm of business, there were important developments as regards Ukraine. As businesspersons around the world began to take an interest in trade with the USSR and its individual republics, Ukrainian businessmen, primarily in the United States and Canada, too, expressed their interest.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian SSR as well demonstrated that trade and business were a top priority.

The listing that follows provides a chronological glimpse into the burgeoning activity in this field.

"Doing Business with Ukraine," a two-day conference on the new possibilities in U.S.-Ukrainian economic ties, was held by the Ukrainian American Professionals and Businesspersons Association of New York/New Jersey on April 15-16.
In May, the SVIT Group of Companies based in Winnipeg signed major agreements with the Ukrainian Foreign Trade Association (UKRIMPEX) and UKRINTOUR, the newly established Ukrainian Association of Foreign Tourism. SVIT will help identity trade partners for companies in Ukraine, market and promote trade activities of UKRIMPEX, and promote tourism to Ukraine.
The first international joint-venture management school in the Soviet Union was established in Kiev, capital of Ukraine, in early July. The International Management institute-Kiev was created as a result of an agreement between the Geneva-based IMI and the Institute of Economics of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Dr. Bohdan Hawrylyshyn was chief negotiator for IMI-Geneva. Dr. Oleh Bilorus was named acting director of the Kiev institute. IMI-Kiev held its inaugural meeting in October.
The Ukrainian SSR held its first trade show and exhibition outside the USSR in Edmonton at the Klondike Days Exposition in July.
Biznex, a Kiev-based cooperative with activities in market research, business education and statistical publications, sent a delegation to the United States in July and August. Led by Sergiy Berezovenko, the six-man delegation made numerous business contacts. The group addressed the New England-Soviet Trade Council as well as an all-day seminar on opportunities and problems of conducting business ventures in Ukraine sponsored by the law firm Baker and McKenzie. They also met with U.S. government officials who deal in Soviet trade matters, including representatives of the agriculture, commerce, state and treasury departments. As well, the Biznex-men sought out Ukrainian American businesspersons as valuable contacts.
From September 30 through October 15, a 68-member delegation of Canadian, as well as some American businesspersons of Ukrainian descent and several Canadian government officials journeyed to Ukraine on a fact-finding trip aimed at examining business opportunities. Consisting of many members of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation the group wanted to assess the effects of glasnost and perestroika in Ukraine, as well as to determine how the Ukrainian Canadian business community could help in Ukraine's restructuring. The delegation also attended a joint venture conference on October 3-5 in Kiev and held business meetings in the Ukrainian capital, Odessa and Lviv. The trip resulted in some 30-35 joint venture proposals and the signing of some 26-27 agreements.