Ukraine seeks to shine at Shanghai import expo in Nov

KIEV — Ukraine is expecting the first China International Import Expo to boost its economic ties with China as over 100 Ukrainian companies have expressed willingness to participate, to seek new business opportunities.

From toys and agricultural products to surgical instruments and innovative gadgets, Ukrainian producers are ready to showcase a wide range of goods at the Nov 5-10 expo, which will gather over 2,800 enterprises from more than 130 countries and regions.

Ukraine will send a 200strong delegation consisting of officials and businessmen to promote commercial ties with their Chinese partners.

Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv, who will lead the delegation, said the expo is a “great opportunity” for Ukraine, not only to showcase its products and services, trade and investment potential, but also “to enter the Chinese market”.

The delegation will also meet with representatives of the Chinese commercial and industrial circles.

Iryna Nikorak, the head of the Silk Road Association of Ukraine, said the Ukrainian delegation will organize various kinds of activities to help foster cooperation with the Chinese side.

“We will organize workshops and roundtables to show the investment potential of Ukraine, show those projects that Ukrainian regions can offer to Chinese companies and show specific areas for B2B (business-to-business) cooperation in a win-win format,” Nikorak said.

She said the CIIE will become a new platform for Ukrainian and Chinese businessmen to strengthen cooperation, under the Chinaproposed Belt and Road Initiative for achieving common prosperity.

Ukraine attaches great importance to the expo, said Maryana Kahanyak, the head of Export Promotion Office at the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

“The participation in the exhibition is a chance to show our trade, investment and tourism potential, our unique inventions, as well as the faces of a new, modern Ukraine,” Kahanyak said.

Ukraine’s national booth, with an area of 136 square meters, would reflect the country’s aspirations to play a greater role in the BRI, Kahanyak said, adding that the booth would focus on areas including investment, the food sector, the processing industry and more.

China is defined as a “market in focus” under the Export Strategy of Ukraine, she said, adding that Kiev has high expectations for the CIIE to further boost the trade between China and Ukraine.

Kahanyak said with a steady growth in the past years, China-Ukraine trade amounted to $7.69 billion in 2017, and “may increase further”.

The Ukrainian business community also pins high hopes on participation in the CIIE to increase their sales.

Gennady Shestak, the CEO of a Ukrainian company Ugears, which will participate in the CIIE, said the event is a rare chance for his company to establish connections with over 150,000 buyers from China and other countries.

“This exhibition is very important, because it is extremely difficult for Ukrainian producers to enter foreign markets, in particular, such a massive market as China,” Shestak said.

Ugears, a mechanical wooden 3-D puzzles producer, currently exports its products to more than 80 countries, including China.

Shestak said the event would help his company to better understand the needs of Chinese consumers and expand its presence in the Chinese market, where competition is harsh among different producers.

“The Chinese market is very large, very interesting and very specific. We have several models that are very popular in the Chinese market, because they meet the requirements of the Chinese people,” Shestak said.

Shestak also said his company hopes to establish a sustainable partnership with Chinese partners at the CIIE and increase its sales by “multifold”.