The event was aimed at German companies, in particular from North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), which are interested in working together with Ukrainian partners. Especially small and medium-sized enterprises from the region showed great interest in the event.
At the forum, the Partnering in Business with Germany programme presented its services to help German enterprises to do business with Ukrainian partners. Many participants used the opportunity to inform themselves about specific possibilities to enter the Ukrainian market and to establish initial contacts.
Clear signals from business and government
Jürgen Steinmetz, managing director of the IHK Mittlerer Niederrhein, underlined the significance of joint efforts. He put it in a nutshell by saying that big issues and great challenges require cooperation.
H.E. Oleksii Makeiev, Ambassador of Ukraine in Germany, pointed out that support alone is not sufficient. He said that business cooperation to the benefit of both sides is decisive. He underlined that Ukrainian enterprises are innovative and attractive partners for German firms. At the same time, he said, the business community is a key factor for the resilience, reconstruction and economic stability of Ukraine. He called upon German enterprises to become active in Ukraine now rather than to wait, as people in Ukraine noticed and appreciated those companies which are already contributing to Ukraine’s economy. Business activities can begin at a low level, embedded in local ecosystems. and subsequently be scaled up. He also pointed out that many wide-spread assumptions about Ukraine were not true.
