Kharkiv Oblast trade delegation takes home results from U.S. visit (02/24/02)

Kharkiv Oblast trade delegation takes home results from U.S. visit

by Jan Sherbin

CINCINNATI - A trade delegation from the Kharkiv Oblast has completed its swing through Ohio, making many contacts that are expected to result in increased trade, as well as educational exchanges.

Representing both private business and government economic development units, the delegation pitched the Kharkiv Oblast in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati between January 28 and February 2. The delegation made the Ohio trip via the Kharkiv Partnership, a program designed to accelerate the creation of private businesses and new employment opportunities in the Kharkiv Oblast.

Delegates participated in small trade shows in each of the three Ohio cities and also met with business and government leaders. Private businesses represented the fields of agriculture, aviation, chemicals, energy, optics, clothing and accessories, food processing and information technology. Possibilities explored for linkages included distributing Ukrainian products in the United States and U.S. products in Ukraine, outsourcing labor, and identifying lower-cost sources of products and components.

Kharkiv Oblast Chairman Yevhen Kushnariov pointed out the region's commercial strengths, such as natural resources, educated labor force, inexpensive energy and transport junctions. He said information brought by the delegation could help Ohio businesses evaluate the attractiveness of the Kharkiv oblast and could lead to increased jobs and income for Kharkiv Oblast residents.

Furthermore, the city of Kharkiv, the capital of the Kharkiv Oblast, operates under a special investment policy that allows income tax breaks for foreign companies, as well as duty exemptions on raw materials and construction parts.

Mr. Kushnariov kicked off the trade mission by meeting with Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. Both officials signed a Protocol of Intent for Cooperation, which outlines a broad program of commercial, academic and cultural efforts to be promoted in Ohio and the Kharkiv Oblast. Much of the program builds on groundwork laid by the Cincinnati-Kharkiv Sister City Project since 1989.

The trade delegation brought a logo proclaiming "Our time is now." In a speech directed to Ohio businesspeople and officials of Ohio's Department of Development, Verkhovna Rada National Depurty Anatoli Volok explained why the group is making this claim.

"Only seven years ago, Mr. Kushnariov and I had the opportunity to speak with a McDonald's executive in Washington with the intent of attracting franchises to Ukraine. 'Impossible,' he said. 'We wouldn't have any customers, and it's not safe in Ukraine.' Today, Ukrainian McDonald's are some of the most profitable franchises in Europe. In Kharkiv alone, there are five very busy restaurants," Mr. Volok said.

"We hope that after this week Ohio will see the Kharkiv Oblast as a natural and beneficial partner for economic development, for educational and people exchanges, and for the promotion of universal peace in a complex and troubled world," the Parliament member underscored.

The trade mission's Ohio program was organized by Cincinnati's Center for Economic Initiatives and Kent State University. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded the mission.

Details about the Kharkiv Oblast trade delegation, such as companies interested in doing business in the United States and their products and services, are on the website of the Center for Economic Initiatives: www.ukrainebiz.com.

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