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Why Ukraine

	Explore business opportunities in Ukraine

Ukraine has a wealthy supply of agricultural products and oil that boosts the economy of the country. The main agricultural products that are produced by Ukraine are grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables, beef and milk. The main industries are coal, electric power, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and food processing, especially sugar.

The main import commodities of Ukraine are energy, machinery, equipment and chemicals and the main export commodities are ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment and food products.

Ukraine’s main invested sectors are, Services, Textiles, Chemicals, Food and food related industries, machinery and energy based projects.

	Advantages for Swiss Business Partners

		Human resources (highly educated and highly skilled, low costs)

		Open Labour market (still many places with high unemployment rates)

		Platform to outsource Research and Development (many academic institutions)

		Platform to outsource IT (many highly skilled programmers)

		Potential for clinical research (many clinics and hospitals interested in joint venture)

		Large economic market (not only Ukraine, but also the whole CIS through cross border GOST-procedures and acceptances)

		Low production costs (energy, labour, etc)

	Challenges

It would be wrong to pretend that there are no pitfalls. Ukraine remains a challenging environment in commercial terms. Entering the market requires far more careful preparation than is needed in a country with a more developed market economy. In order to create the right environment for success, Swiss companies should carry out detailed research, including the identification of the right potential partners, and seek professional advice where necessary. It is also essential to check whether your product will fit the market.

The business environment in which both, Ukrainian and foreign importers/exporters, as well as Ukrainian producers, operate, needs improvement. Excessive taxation make firms hide their real profits, shortage of finance, problems with sales and problems of the financial system, as well as frequent and abrupt changes in legislation, all inhibit normal operations of importers and exporters alike.

There has been a certain improvement in the commercial climate. Pressures from the international community as Ukraine pursues accession to the WTO and a closer relationship with the EU will continue to force the pace of reform, as will pressure from the international financial institutions seeking structural reform as a condition for future funding. It will become easier to do business here, and there are signs that this is now happening. Should Swiss companies not enter the market now, the benchmarks will have been set by their competitors.

Also to mention:

		Cultural differences

		Language barriers

	Which sometimes are bigger than anticipated.

	The most important Success Factors

Find a Reliable Partner

A reliable local partner is crucial, particularly when a company is first starting to work in Ukraine. This partner will help the foreign company understand the market; business etiquette, laws and regulations, and can introduce the foreign company to potential customers. Local experts can help reduce the risks and transaction costs by quickly and efficiently providing information on and assessing a range of potential opportunities.

Start Slowly

Most foreign companies that do business in Ukraine begin small. For example, they may work with local partners to market their goods, or they may conduct marketing from a nearby country, such as Russia, where they already have base. Foreign companies usually wait until they have established a successful business in Ukraine, before they consider expanding their operations in Ukraine. When they do expand, the logical step is often to establish a permanent office in Ukraine. While this involves financial commitment and risk, establishing a local presence is usually key to expanding one’s customer base. Most Ukrainian enterprises prefer working with firms that employ Ukrainian salespeople and that have a local customer service or maintenance office. Later, if business is truly going well in Ukraine, a foreign firm might consider more costly undertakings, such as opening multiple offices throughout the country or building a manufacturing facility in Ukraine. Very few foreign firms to date have undertaken such measures in Ukraine. By developing business in stages, a company can reduce its risk and build its business based on its experience.

Look for Viable Customers

Finally customers must be financially viable if sales and deals are to be secure. Getting a sense of an enterprise’s financial standing early is important, so as not to waste time. Ukrainian partners will be indispensable in helping you assess this quickly. If you have other contacts in Ukraine, such as contacts in banks, industry, or government, they may be able to provide some feedback on whether a plant is worth pursuing based on its financial record. Another source of information is an enterprise’s track-record in paying other foreign suppliers; Ukrainian enterprise executives will usually be willing to tell you the names of other foreign firms with which they are working.