News


Kansas City Doing Business in the Ukraine

Aug 17, 2018

On July 27, the World Trade Center—Kansas City, in partnership with Global Ties KC, hosted a visiting delegation of Parliamentarians from Ukraine for a business roundtable. The delegation was comprised of Parliamentarians Nataliia Vasylivna Veselova, Iryna Mykolaivna Suslova, Oleksandr Mykhailovych Kodola, Valeriia Leonidivna Zaruzhko, and Sergii Ivanovych Kiral. Mr. Kiral, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Industrial Policy & Entrepreneurship of Ukraine, gave a brief presentation on business and investment opportunities in Ukraine. The visiting delegates then discussed future economic opportunities between Ukraine and Kansas City, as well as Ukraine’s current economic relations with the United States and the European Union, in a Q&A with local business leaders.

The roundtable was an opportunity to learn more about Ukraine’s economic growth and opportunities in key sectors. In his presentation, Mr. Kiral drew attention to the class of reform-oriented leaders in science and government which has been championing progress in Ukraine since the 2014 revolution. He emphasized the way Ukraine’s bold and extensive reform agenda has created a positive business environment through deregulation, economic stabilization, and anticorruption initiatives. He also pointed to Ukraine’s other competitive advantages, such as its skilled population, strategic location, and competitive information technology sector. Mr. Kiral highlighted energy, agribusiness, infrastructure, and manufacturing as four high-potential sectors for Kansas City investors.

When asked about Ukraine’s relationship with Russia, the delegates acknowledged the ongoing tensions between the two countries and said the conflict is not adversely affecting Ukraine’s overall economy and need not deter investment. The delegates spoke candidly about their desires for Ukraine to join the European Union, which would further strengthen the country’s economy.