This year KIEF will stress on key changes Ukraine faces with sophisticated technologies and innovations that transform the rules of the game on the conventional markets, in the global economy and in all spheres of society. What awaits the countries that are not the frontrunners in this world? Which sectors will be the first to feel the change of business paradigms? And how we may use the challenges of the new era for the better here and now, in Ukraine? These questions started the discussion on the first KIEF plenary session moderated by Nik Gowing – main news presenter for the BBC World News (1996-2014).
Ukraine has shown huge progress in the recent years. To point out few, the country ranked 43rd in the world's most innovative countries list; it has increased the index of doing business from 112 to 76 points; it features 127,000 highly-skilled software developers and 100 R&D centers today. Ukraine has already become a global player. Investments, infrastructure and human capital are the main needs of Ukraine to meet the challenges of the future — stated Volodymyr Groysman, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, today in his speech opening the KIEF-2018.
The first KIEF panel moderator and speakers shared their view on the country’s future:
“For Ukraine, not only the volume of investments, but also the success of these investments is quite important. It is time to invest in Ukraine, to boost economic transformation and business development and to become leaders.” – Volodymyr Groysman, the Prime Minister of Ukraine.
“Ukraine has tremendous potential of creating high value products but it’s not yet realized.” – Nik Gowing, main news presenter for the BBC World News.
“We are trying to create startups right inside our company. In the modern world, you have to make decisions faster than ever. You shouldn’t be afraid of making a mistake.” – Alex Dimitrief, Senior Vice President, General Electric Company and President & CEO, GE Global.
“As an investor, I see that this country has a particular advantage, which is talent. This country has more talent you will normally find on an emerging market. This is the particular value that we see in Ukraine.” – Jose Manuel Entrecanales, Chairman and CEO of ACCIONA, a global operator in renewables.
“Since launching BlaBlaCar service in Ukraine we see phenomenal growth here. Smart people are more important than low-cost labor. Nowadays there is a shortage of engineers in Europe and in the US. Most companies pay attention to Ukraine because you have smart software developers and engineers." – Nicolas Brusson, Co-founder and CEO of BlaBlaCar.
“Five years ago, I told everyone: come to Ukraine, we have low wages and smart people here. Today the advantage of cheap labor does not work, technologies are more important. It is very essential that the Ukrainian business not only applies innovations, but also creates them.” – Vasyl Khmelnytsky, initiator of the KIEF, Founder of UFuture Investment Group.
Kyiv International Economic Forum — KIEF — is the leading international platform analyzing and debating Ukrainian and global economic, business and entrepreneurship trends and opportunities, and their relationship with wider societal and policy matters.
Photo source: facebook.com/kyiveconomicforum.
