Conference in New York focuses on U.S.-Ukraine business networking (05/01/05)

Conference in New York focuses on U.S.-Ukraine business networking

by Tamara Olexy
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK - The Ukraine-U.S. Business Networking Series successfully concluded here on March 30-31 with over 300 participants in attendance. The two-day session - co-sponsored by the American Foreign Policy Council, the Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations, Columbia University's Ukrainian Studies Program, New York University's Liberal Arts Program, NYU Stern School of Business, Ukraine's Economic Mission to the United States, Ukraine's Embassy to the United States, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and the U.S. Department of Commerce/BISNIS - brought together experts from the corporate and academic world, as well as key government representatives of the United States and Ukraine to evaluate Ukraine's ability to advantageously compete in the global economic arena.

The conference was held at a critical moment in Ukraine's history, during a period when Ukraine has been recording double-digit economic growth and in the immediate aftermath of a presidential election that has brought to power a leadership committed to rule of law and market transparency.

The conference examined the present state of Ukraine's economy, as well as both "macro" and "micro" issues important to Ukraine's economic development. The plenary sessions touched upon topics ranging from privatization to investment oportunities in Ukraine.

Running concurrent with the general plenary program were 12 business-to-business sessions specifically designed for the corporate participants during which the following industrial sectors were discussed: agriculture, aerospace and defense technology, consumer goods, construction, energy, financial services, information techonology, machine and auto building, media and entertainment, medical technology, metals and chemicals, and travel and tourism.

More than 70 individuals, including Ukrainian and U.S. government and banking officials participated. Among them were: Ukraine's Minister of Industry Volodymyr Shandra, Ukraine's Minister of Justice Roman Zvarych; trade specialist for Europe and Eurasia at U.S. Trade Representative's Office, John Fennerty; Economic Section desk officer for Ukraine at the U.S. Department of State, J. Peter Higgins; international economist in the Office of Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Department of Treasury, Matthew Gaertner; chairman of the Rada Committee on Industrial Policy; Yurii Yekhanurov; vice-chairman of the Rada Budgetary Committee, Valerii Asadchev; senior international trade specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Andrew Bihun; investment insurance officer with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Stephen Johnston; and IMF Deputy Director Oleh Havrylyshyn.

Also attenting were representatives of the American and Ukrainian corporate worlds, including the general director of Yuzhmash/Pivdenmash, Yurii Alexeyev; the deputy chief designer for the Antonov Aeronautical Scientific/Technical Complex, Olexandr Kiva; the managing director of Kraft Foods Ukraine George Logush; Bear Stearns Vice-President Marianna Kozintseva; partner of tax and legal practice of PriceWaterHouse-Coopers in Ukraine, Jorge Intriago; and partner in Ukraine Salans, Myron Rabiy.

Addressing nearly 350 invited guests at the forum reception, held at the Union League Club in Midtown Manhattan, Minister of Justice Zvarych underscored the reforms already instituted in the short three months since President Viktor Yushchenko took office. Mr. Zvarych highlighted Ukraine's judicial reforms as they relate to greater legal protection for foreign investment, judicial transparency, and fair and competitive privatization.

The closing remark of Minister Zvarych's keynote address succinctly summed up the position of new Yushchenko administration and the message emanating from the business forum: "Ukraine is open for business."

| Home Page |