Online-magazine
OLEKSANDR DANYLEIKO: “SUPPORT OF NATIONAL COMPANIES IN THEIR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES ABROAD IS ONE OF OUR KEY PRIORITIES”
– What are the main activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the foreign economic sphere? How does the Ministry help Ukrainian manufacturers in entering the foreign markets?
– First of all, this is systemic work aimed at providing access of Ukrainian goods to foreign markets, severe lobbying, supporting interests of the Ukrainian manufacturer abroad, developing the economic independency of our state and attracting foreign investors. Thus, our priority is direct work with the national business; literally, each domestic enterprise can count on the diplomatic support from the Ministry.
As for specific enquires we process here at the Ministry, those are mainly about getting background information about the specifics of importing some groups of goods to foreign countries, the existence of rating and non-rating regulations, technical standards, licensing, etc. We do our best to process such enquiries most effectively and provide our partners with informational and practical support.
Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unique facilities, diplomatic missions abroad, we make every effort to provide the constitutional protection of our national businesses abroad. Whenever a problematic situation with foreign partners appears, it requires immediate diplomatic protection of a Ukrainian manufacturer by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Ukraine in the relevant country.
A particular, but not less important part of our work is assistance to national exporters while entering foreign markets. Having established sustainable contacts with the businesses in host countries, Ukrainian diplomatic institutions provide them info about the Ukrainian exporting potential and specific offers from domestic manufacturers. In addition, diplomatic institutions support Ukrainian businesses while organizing their participation in prestigious international exhibitions and forums, as well as perform diplomatic escorting of Ukrainian companies in participating at international commercial tenders abroad.
– What are the duties of the Ministry’s Council of Exporters and Investors?
– The Ministry’s Council of Exporters and Investors is an open and dynamic platform actively used by the Ministry for direct communication with Ukrainian manufacturers. Therefore, its main duty is responding to the real demand of businesses, operating in the form of “only window” for domestic enterprises while obtaining diplomatic assistance.
In the framework of this mechanism, we perform permanent monitoring of foreign markets and provide operative informing of national manufacturers about the potential for expanding of Ukrainian presence on them, as well as information of foreign companies interested to cooperate.
In order to optimize the work of the Council, in 2015 we have introduced a unified and clear algorithm of processing enquires from businesses, which allows us to respond them quickly and effectively in terms finding foreign partners and lobbying their offers. In particular, in 2016 more than 600 commercial, trade and investing offers were distributed through the resources of the Council all over the world. A lot of them found substantial respond from foreign companies.
Another duty of the Council is aggregation and distribution of information that can have practical value among business circles. First, it concerns foreign companies’ statements about the search for foreign partners, informational and analytical material about the prospects of foreign markets, announcements of tender procedures abroad, holding of international exhibition events, etc.
– Which markets are the most promising for Ukraine today? What measures does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs undertake in order to open new markets for Ukrainian companies?
– As for the most promising markets for Ukrainian business, the first place, of course, belongs to the European market in terms of the Association agreement and establishing of a free trade zone between Ukraine and the EU. In order to provide proper assistance to national exporters while creating contacts with potential partners in Europe, the Embassy of Ukraine in the EU has implemented the project “Center of Exporters Assistance”. The Center provides both advisory – information and clarification about general and specific conditions while accessing the EU markets – and practical assistance – in finding partners, organizing meetings, etc. The website of the Embassy contains comprehensive reference and advisory information designed to answer all the possible questions from Ukrainian enterprises planning to enter the European market. However, we also consider and promote the distribution of national products to other regional markets, namely to South-Eastern Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
For example, prepared by the Council and free accessible on its website, there is information regarding the African market, local traditions of running business, and some specific aspects of its legislation.
Another assisting mechanism of our national business is the joint activity with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, which deals with the formation of favorable trade regimes, namely the signing of relevant bilateral agreements with countries that are of significant economic interest for us. These agreements are aimed at the progressive elimination of trade barriers, simplification of customs procedures and, finally, creation of free trade zones. This concerns, first of all, Turkey, Vietnam and Israel. Setting free trade zones with the Economic Community countries in Western Africa and the Cooperation Council of Arabic countries in the Persian Gulf also opens up hundreds of prospects and opportunities for Ukraine.
– How close is the cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian Commerce and Industry Chambers in terms of assisting national manufacturers?
– Traditionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always kept a constructive and active cooperation with the most prominent Ukrainian business representatives. One of those is the Ukrainian Commerce and Industry Chambers and regional Commerce and Industry Chambers (including the Kyiv Chamber of Commerce and Industry). Commerce and Industry Chambers are constantly involved into organizing events held by Ukrainian diplomatic institutions abroad, forming delegations of national business circles for participation in these events, as well as working on the image of Ukrainian manufacturers for international exhibitions and fairs. From its side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively participates in events arranged by Commerce and Industry Chambers.
In addition, at practically each important event within the Chambers, we assure the participation of Ministry representatives, which is the evidence of our interest and commitment to be fully involved into the Chambers’ activities. Let us not forget the existing constructive cooperation between the Ukrainian diplomatic institutions and regional Chambers. Last year, this cooperation primarily concerned dealing with problematic issues between Ukrainian business entities and foreign business partners, as well as paying foreign business visits. Given the activity and interest expressed by the Commerce and Industry Chambers while participating in the updated working mechanism of the Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I expect this cooperation is keeping its positive dynamics and developing to a completely new level.
Therefore, to conclude, I want to emphasize that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready and open for active and constructive cooperation with national business. We will continue to put our best efforts towards an effective and operative assistance to domestic enterprises and promotion of their interests on the foreign markets.
