Report: Belgian-Ukrainian
Business Round Table
On Wednesday October 20, 2021
InterContinental Hotel Kyiv
Honorary consul of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium (Limburg) Kris Beckers organised the first Belgian-Ukrainian Business Round Table in the InterContinental Hotel in Kyiv with great success. It allowed Belgian entrepreneurs active in Ukraine (list*) to get acquainted with each other. It gave them the possibility to explain their future business plan and the difficulties they meet in Ukraine directly to the present deputy Minister, heads of Governmental State organisations and the President of the UCCI (list**), in the presence of H.E. the Belgian Ambassador Alex Lenaerts and different Ukrainian parliamentarians (***).
Synergy, simplification of administrative procedures (such as customs), a more effective rule of justice and cooperation with Ukrainian agencies were the main subjects on the Belgian side. The Ukrainian officials explained the improvements of the investment climate, rules of the future land sales and privatisations. Future investments will strongly depend on progress in matters of fair competition, impartial justice and efficient and subsidiary administration, as well on the national as on the regional level. Ukraine is a country with great economic and cultural potential. New governmental initiatives, such as the presence of Ukrainian officials at this meeting are an encouraging sign for the future Belgian-Ukrainian relations. The Ukrainian authorities became aware that important investments can only be obtained when a country offers sufficient security and attractive conditions in the challenge of international competition for investment.
A great number of personalities (****) joined the reunion at the moment when a cocktail party was offered by honorary consul Beckers in honour of the former bilateral Ukrainian ambassador in the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Mykola Tochytskyi, for the efficiency with which he stimulated Ukrainian-Belgian relations. After the ‘Laudatio' of H.E. the ambassador by the honorary consul, Professor Dr. Jan De Maere extended the congratulations and addressed the present audience with a short lecture on the beauty and difficulties of such a diplomatic mission. Soft power, culture and well-established diplomatic ties, boosted by the personal implication of ambassadors and their staff, are precious tools in a world where the respect of treaties is hardly enforceable by force. Even in difficult situations, it is important to be able to understand the opposite party’s position to solve complicated situations, where it in business or state affairs.
The informal aspect of the cocktail allowed all to connect in good spirits until later in the evening.
* Mr. Andriy Veretennik, General Manager Deme Group Ukraine
Mr. Antoon Praet, CEO Lenax Ukraine
Mr. Christof Conings, CEO Kris - Vit Ukraine
Mr. Dmytro Tsapenko, Deputy CEO in charge fo Corporate BNP Paribas Ukraine
Ms. Elena Zharko, General Director Ahlers Ukraine
Ms. Liliya Pogorila, Site manager Melexis Ukraine
Ms. Kristel Bisschop, Site Manager Monks International Ukraine
Mr. Luc Vancraen, CEO Quadrox
** Mr. Ihor Korhovyi, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development - European integration
Mr. Sergiy Tsivkach, CEO of UkraineInvest
Mr. Gennadyi Chyzhykov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Ms. Elina Shapovalova, Investment advisor UkraineInvest
*** Ms. Maria Mezentseva, MP and Co-chairman of the inter-parliamentary friendship group between UA-BE
Ms. Olena Vintonyak, MP and member of the inter-parliamentary friendship group between UA-BE
Mr. Kuzminykh Serhii, MP and member of the inter-parliamentary friendship group between UA-BE
**** H.E. Mr. Antonio Vasco Alves Machados, Ambassador of Portugal
H.E. Ms. Dragica Ponorac, Ambassador of Montenegro
H.E. Mr. George Zakarashvili, Ambassador of Georgia
H.E. Mr. Etienne de Poncins, Ambassador of French
H.E. Mr. Gernot Pfandler, Ambassador of Austria
H.E. Mr. Kaimo Kuusk, Ambassador of Estonia
H.E. Mr. Nicolae Minea, Ambassador of Moldova
H.E. Mr. Valdemaras Sarapinas, Ambassador of Lithuania
H.E. Mr. Visvaldas Kulbokas, Ambassador of Vatican
Ms. Kate Davenport, Political Counsellor of British Embassy