On September 25, a team of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and the Export Promotion Office launched a three-day trade mission to Turkey. The Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul is led by First Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv.

The program of the three-day visit envisages B2B meetings organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), the holding of a Ukrainian-Turkish Business Forum, an educational event on the specifics of doing business in this country, and visits to successful companies in Istanbul to share experiences.

"Turkey is a strategic partner of Ukraine due to its close location, similar business approaches, and long-term mutually beneficial relations. Only last year Ukraine exported goods and services to Turkey worth $2.7 billion, which exceeds by $456.7 million more than in 2016. We are now finalizing preparatory measures to sign the Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Turkey, aimed to strengthen economic ties and become a catalyst for the cooperation among entrepreneurs of our countries. Therefore, we go on this mission together - government officials and business representatives in order to establish maximum cooperation at all levels", said First Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv.

According to Head of the Export Promotion Office Mariana Kaganjak, due to participation in trade missions, Ukrainian business obtains an opportunity to find reliable partners and open up new markets, "This year, due to the active participation of business in trade missions, we discovered the markets of Nigeria and Ghana, Austria, Israel, we are working on a trade mission to Germany, the United Kingdom and another mission to Israel. Turkey is a "focal point" for Ukrainian exports and, in addition, enters the top 5 trading partners of Ukraine in terms of export growth. The Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Turkey, negotiated by the governments of the two countries, will offer new prospects for Ukrainian companies, and it's time to establish business contacts and plan exports."

Background

The trade mission to Turkey is due to be held from September 25 to 27, 2018. Ukrainian companies interested in entering the local market are invited to participate. Priority was given to companies operating in the sectors of renewable energy, technology and mechanical engineering (heavy machinery, pumping and electrical equipment). Mission organizers are the Export Promotion Office, Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Turkey and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), with the support of Western NIS Enterprise Fund.