ODESA, JULY 30th, 2014, CONTEXT-PRICHERNOMORIE – Polish-Ukrainian business forum “Poland-Odesa Region Business Day” is held in Odesa, Context-Prichernomorie correspondent reports.

July 29-31 the delegation of the Republic of Poland, headed by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland to Ukraine Mr. Henrik Litwin visits Odesa Region.

The forum “Poland-Odesa Region Business Day” was attended by representatives of the Odesa Regional Chamber of Commerce, European Business Association, over 80 Ukrainian and Polish businessmen and managers of Odesa region. The main purpose of the forum is to establish direct business contacts and promoting foreign trade, outsourcing, development of economy in Odesa region.

Forum participants on behalf of the Odesa Regional State Administration welcomed the first deputy head of the regional administration Natalia Chegodar who thanked the Polish side for assistance that Poland gives to our country.

“This forum continues a dialogue and effective cooperation between the regions of our countries. We hope that during the course of direct negotiations between the companies, new contacts which will be used to finance the budget, infrastructure development and solving social issues will be established,” Natalia Chegodar said.

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Poland to Ukraine Henryk Litwin said that for many years, Poland is one of the most important trade partners of Ukraine among the countries of the European Union; it is the largest consumer of Ukrainian goods. Compared with other countries, Ukraine exports to Poland rather wide range. The largest volume of exports is the products of the steel industry and iron ore, but of increasing importance in the bilateral exchange acquires agricultural products and seeds and food industry products.

“Our visit to Odesa associated with interest in economic cooperation between business circles of the Odessa Oblast and the Republic of Poland. We arrived with a delegation, which included representatives of business structures and diplomats to help establish effective relations between our countries. Odessa region already has many contacts between the regions and cities that provide business impact. But now when I change the structure of the economy Ukraine must seek new opportunities for cooperation. Our arrival — it's not just another formal event, and the possibility of opening new areas of cooperation,” the Ambassador of Poland to Ukraine Mr Henryk Litwin noted.

The ambassador also noted that some of the “potential investors, taking into account the volatile situation in Ukraine, took a wait, but others on the contrary, believe that it is necessary to develop a relationship, because competition can continue to grow.” Therefore, the Ambassador expressed hope that direct negotiations will be fruitful business and signing new contracts run out.

Odesa Mayor Gennady Trukhanov and Vice Chairman of Regional Council Petro Hlytsov indicated that the main priorities for the Odesa region in relations with Poland are transport and logistics (contacts between the major ports of Odesa and Gdansk), agriculture (our region is the leader of Ukraine grain harvest and vegetables, we need the processing of these products), and recreational areas.