Section: Emerging Europe (UK)
Protecting Intellectual Property to Encourage Business Confidence
The protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) in Ukraine has received significant attention over the last few years, particularly within the context of Ukraine’s inclusion in the Priority Watch List of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) “Special 301” Report, as one of the countries where particular...
Anti-corruption Efforts Are the Starting Point for Further Reforms
The fight against corruption is one of the key reforms in Ukraine during the past three years since the Revolution of Dignity. However, despite all the steps that have been taken, the results are still far from what citizens, business and the international community would expect. In the World Corruption Perception’s Index 2016 (CPI) Ukraine...
The Ukrainian Banking Sector Looks Set to Regenerate New Growth
The Ukrainian banking sector is going through tremendous changes. The National Bank’s efforts to clean up the industry, the recent nationalisation of PrivatBank and the merger of Ukrsotsbank and Alfa-Bank are only a few examples. Tamara Savoshchenko, chief executive officer at Ukrsotsbank, and Roman Shpek, an advisor to the president of...
Finalising the DCFTA is Expected to Bring Multiple Benefits to Ukraine
The Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA) negotiations between the European Union and Ukraine began in 2018, after the country joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Despite having started on the wave of the Orange Revolution of 2003-2004, they were continued, or even accelerated, by President Viktor Yanukovych, who was elected in...
A Very Good Prospect for Future Biogas Development
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) till 2020 establishes the general goals for the development of the renewable energy sources’ (RES) sector in Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s commitments as an Energy Treaty member, the RES share in the gross final energy consumption should reach 11 per cent by 2020. Biomass-to-energy...
Office Space Remains Available in Demand in Kyiv
In 2016, the total stock of office space in Kyiv amounted to 1,783 square metres. The new supply was insignificant, a mere 38,000 square metres and was the market’s lowest increase since 2008. 2016 was characterised by an increase in the number of lease transactions in Grade A and B business centres. Against the background of the...
Ukraine’s Reputation for Cheap Labour May Not Ring True in the Long-term
Since gaining its dependence Ukraine’s economic and political priorities have been to attract foreign investors. Ukraine is a country with a population of 45 million. The country’s leadership’s main arguments to attract foreign investors have been its abundant and cheap labour force as well as a large market and fast growth of...
Ukraine’s Gas Industry Risks Stagnation Without Investment
The Concept for Development of Ukraine’s Gas Production Industry by 2020, which was approved by the government in September 2016, predicts that natural gas production should increase to 27 billion cubic metres within four years, compared to the current 20 billion cubic metres. Are these plans feasible? Let me just lay out a few facts:...
SMEs Should Play an Important Role in the Economy and Export Development
Although in Ukraine SMEs make up 99.9 per cent of all registered enterprises in the country, there are limited possibilities for their growth and competitiveness. Dr Gennadiy Chyzhykov, president of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), spoke to Jerry Cameron about the role Ukrainian SMEs play in the economy and the challenges...
‘Viking’ is Yet Another Way to Annoy Ukraine
At the end of December 2016, the film, ‘Viking’, was released in cinemas across Russia. It set an absolute record among the country’s filmgoers, gathering $1 billion in the box office within its first nine days. It is also said to be the most expensive Russian film ever made. The film was expected to depict historical truth, at least...
