Gennadiy Chyzhykov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), discusses how the UCCI can assist international investors.
European Times: What are the main tasks of the UCCI?
Gennadiy Chyzhykov: The UCCI promotes the integration of the national economy into the global economic system, advocates favourable conditions for Ukrainian entrepreneurs and foreign investors, helps companies find business partners, and works to attract potential investors in Ukraine. The UCCI is a member of the Association of the European Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the International Chamber of Commerce and World Chambers Federation, and works with many other organisations around the world. Our chamber has more than 10,000 members and is the largest business organisation in Ukraine, and I hope that we will double our membership by 2020. We want our voice to be heard in government so that the private and public sectors can work together to make our economy more competitive internationally.
European Times: What services do you offer?
Gennadiy Chyzhykov: Our services include organising business meetings, workshops and other events; participating in international conferences; providing information about business issues; preparing legal documents and offering consulting services on legal and regulatory issues; carrying out quality and quantity controls; issuing certificates of origin and ATA carnets; translating documents; ensuring the protection of intellectual property; and handling trade disputes.
European Times: What are some of your current projects?
Gennadiy Chyzhykov: We are strengthening our contacts with chambers in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America which we believe are potential new markets for Ukrainian exports. We are also promoting the diversification of Ukrainian exports to focuss more on value-added products, including high-tech machinery and equipment, and we are helping small and medium-sized enterprises to become more competitive in the global marketplace. We are also promoting exports of Ukrainian services, particularly in the ICT sector. And, we are advocating even more investment in Ukraine’s agricultural production processes to help position Ukraine as the world’s top agricultural producer.
European Times: What is your message to potential investors and partners in Europe?
Gennadiy Chyzhykov: More than 20% of Ukrainian exports are to EU countries, and the EU-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement will create vast new opportunities. Ukraine’s government has been working hard to improve our business climate and will continue to do so. Ukraine offers many high-potential business possibilities in a variety of sectors, and I strongly believe in the bright future of the Ukrainian economy and the Ukrainian people.
