KYIV – The Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce will be fully operational by the end of 2015 to pursue business opportunities between Australia and Ukraine, it was announced in Kyiv on June 11.
According to the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO), which initiated the project, Dr. Petro Matiaszek, a lawyer who has a 20-year background in Ukraine’s corporate and public affairs spheres, will act as the Kyiv-based president of the Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, and Pete Shmigel will be its Sydney-based interim chair.
AFUO President Stefan Romaniw, speaking in Kyiv on June 11, said: “The Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce is a vital step for Australia-Ukraine ties. It will become a key facilitator for Australian businesses seeking opportunities in Ukraine and vice versa. It will help grow the current $150 million trade relationship for the benefit of both countries. It will support the new Australian Embassy in its trade work in any way that it can.”
“We believe there is every reason to be confident about Australia-Ukraine business ties because Ukraine features high education and skill levels, good English levels, extremely competitive cost and labor structures, a strong resource base, and strong international support for a peaceful future,” Mr. Romaniw added.
Dr Matiaszek commented: “A reformist administration in Ukraine understands the need for business engagement, transparency and policy certainty, and the doors are now open to a wide range of trade and investment opportunities between Australia and Ukraine.”
He said that “market feedback suggests many potential areas of mutual benefit,” including international education, aviation, aerospace, mining services, resources (such as manganese, gas and uranium), hospitality, fashion, outsourcing of services and manufacturing, agriculture, as well as governance systems.
“The current period shows just how resilient and innovative Ukrainian business is, and smart investors currently have abundant, low-barrier opportunities for future realization,” Dr. Matiaszek noted.
Mr. Romaniw, Dr. Matiaszek and Sydney-based, Ukraine-born research analyst Kateryna Kharovska were to be in Kyiv to brief Australian and Ukrainian government officials and business contacts on the new development. An inaugural business roundtable was to be held in Kyiv – with Ambassador Doug Trappett as special guest – to discuss opportunities for business.
A key milestone for the newly initiated Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce will be organizing a business delegation exchange later this year and advocating visa reform for travel between Australia and Ukraine.