Understanding the Ukrainian context: strategic initiatives, market entry and risk management

Successful and safe entry into the Ukrainian market became the topic for discussion among top international advisors at the webinar, organized by the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) with the support of COSA.

The webinar “Understanding the Ukrainian context: strategic initiatives, market entry and risk management” united the leading experts with extensive experience in Ukraine and international relations: Roman Popadiuk, US Ambassador (ret.), Pavlo Verkhniatskyi, Managing Partner at COSA, Richard Cashman, Advisory Board member at COSA, Olivia Allison, Senior Advisor at PRISM.

Core takeaways:

• key areas that will be very much open to investors: infrastructure, agriculture (including demining process, storage, transport), humanitarian developments (services and goods), as well as construction, energy, IT, and pharmaceuticals;
• there is a lot to be done in the security sector – defense and supporting industries (metal works, specific rare earth metals, electronics, etc.). The US defense companies are looking now for cooperation in many aspects with the Ukrainian defense enterprises;
• many international businesses have not only stayed in Ukraine (retail, FMCG, infrastructure), but they are also investing in new facilities – they see Ukraine as a growth area that shows huge potential despite the war obstacles;
• most obstacles for investors can be solved by the united efforts of the Ukrainian government and business and the support of the international community (security risks guarantees and defense for business, motivation for the workforce to stay in Ukraine, establishing of the new supply chains, logistic solutions, consistent government policies);
• experts recommend investing in the early level, before the war ends, for more profit. Despite all the war challenges, the Ukrainian economy shows a confident growth trend;
• for the confident entry foreign investors must explore the peculiarities of the Ukrainian market and talk with the people who have wide-ranging networks and can help to navigate in this environment.

Pavlo Verkhniatskyi summarized the discussion:

Now it is a good time to be with Ukraine, to be in Ukraine, build business and create history, make the ongoing story. It is time to seek opportunities in Ukraine, but while doing so do not forget about the risk management system aspects such as market research, political risk assessment, third-party integrity due diligence, and compliance matters.