News Tag: міжнародна торгівля
A five-year story of change: the CUTIS project shares its outcomes
12/12/2020

Traditionally, the end of the year is a time to assess annual progress and review results. The CUTIS project has an even more ambitious goal. We want to summarize not only the challenging year 2020, but all five years of the project’s activities in Ukraine.

The best way to do this is by sharing real-life stories that capture the impact CUTIS has had on the people, institutions, organizations, and communities that the project has reached.

CUTIS was designed to support higher sustainable economic growth in Ukraine by increasing exports from Ukraine to Canada and investment from Canada to Ukraine. It focused its efforts on assisting Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in particular those led by women and those wishing to improve their environmental performance.

The stories of change were divided into the following five themes:

Improving evidence-based information and analysis to support sound decision making

Improving trade and investment linkages between Ukraine and Canada

Supporting the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)

Supporting gender equality

Supporting environmental sustainability

We believe that our partner organizations—Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce; Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture; Export Promotion Office; regional chambers of commerce and industry; and UkraineInvest—will continue to strengthen the Canada–Ukraine trade and investment relationship and deliver many more success stories in the years ahead.

Read
Ukrainian companies may attend two North American apparel virtual trade shows for free
16/10/2020

The Apparel Textile Sourcing (ATS) exhibition, one of the largest international apparel and textile sourcing events, will connect thousands of buyers and manufacturers from all over the world with two virtual trade shows.

The virtual events will take place live online on October 26-30 and November 16-20. These state-of-the-art digital events will connect more than 300 manufacturers and suppliers from over a dozen countries and regions with attendees and buyers from Canada, the USA, Latin America, Europe, Australia.

Ukrainian companies may attend the trade shows FOR FREE.

The ATS October 26-30 event will have an educational and market focus on global and Canadian trade issues with special attention on free trade agreements, sustainability and COVID-19.

The ATS November 16-20 event will feature panels and sessions focused on global suppliers and USA buyers. Analysts, economists, influencers and experts will recap 2020 and provide advantages to seek out in 2021.

The attendances will get:

  • Free sourcing, education, matchmaking & more.
  • Interactive seminars from apparel & sourcing industry experts.
  • Exhibits from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & the Middle East.
  • Live chats, virtual networking, engagement made simple.

To get more information and register, please follow the link.

Apparel Textile Sourcing trade shows are a global industry destination that provides a unique platform for manufacturers, distributors, apparel & fabric buyers, merchandisers, retail chains to find new business contacts, share experiences, learn new ideas and create business opportunities.

Ukrainian apparel products were presented at ATSC three times and caught the interest of Indian, Chinese and Pakistani companies, which considered the possibility of locating production capacity in Ukraine.

Read
For the first time in a virtual format. Ukrainian confectioners take part in the largest North American food exhibition
28/09/2020

Two well-known Ukrainian food producers – Bob Snail (natural candies “Snail Bob”) and Malbi (chocolate products “Millennium”) represent Ukraine at SIAL Canada 2020, the largest exhibition of food, equipment and technology in North America.

From September 28 to October 2, SIAL Canada will be a unique virtual platform for communication between leading players of the North American agri-food market.

Ukraine will be represented at SIAL Canada for the third time. This year, for the first time, Ukrainian manufacturers are getting acquainted with Canadian and American consumers and buyers in an innovative virtual format. Such participation became possible through the support of the CUTIS project and the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (CUCC).

Ukrainian companies are presented at the exhibition via customized 3D stands, where future Canadian and American partners may get all the necessary information for further cooperation. Besides, a series of B2B meetings are planned with key Canadian distributors and retailers.

In total, according to the organizers, more than 25 thousand visitors will take part in the virtual exhibition, more than 1.5 thousand B2B meetings will be held.

“Pioneering in the new online world and participating in such virtual shows like SIAL 2020 in Montreal, CUTIS project mobilized the Ukrainian companies which are capable to make a contribution to the economic recovery of our industry and export. We explore opportunities for the new format of communication and reenergize entrepreneurship,” Emma Turos, Managing Director at CUCC and Project Manager at CUTIS project, say.

“It is nice to mention that CUTIS and CUCC are helping Ukrainian businesses to adapt to the new business reality and find new partners overseas. In conditions when the borders between counties are actually closed. Such activities contribute to the development of not only specific companies but also the entire food industry and the economy of Ukraine in general, ” Ms. Emma continues.

Ukrainian confectionery producers present their products at SIAL Canada for the third time as a part of the CUTIS U CAN EXPORT support program for Ukrainian SMEs. We are confident that, as in previous years, Ukrainian products will receive positive reviews from demanding Canadian retailers and distributors.

Stay tuned!

Read
How to Increase Business Competitiveness with Socially Responsible Practices
16/09/2020

The CUTIS project and the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce hold a virtual round table for small and medium-sized businesses.

Michael Hopkins, Co-Founder and Fellow of Institute for Responsible Leadership (London), explained:

  • What is a socially responsible business (CSR)? How can SMEs implement CSR practices?
  • What is personal social responsibility?
  • Does treating your company’s key stakeholders responsibly make your business more competitive?
  • How to select your company’s key stakeholders and how to interact with them?

You can download Michael’s presentation via a link (in English).

Emma Turos, Executive Director of the Ukrainian office of the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, provided practical tips (for Ukrainian SMEs) to adopt socially responsible business in operational and labour practices.

Moreover, Ukrainian businesswomen who have already successfully implemented CSR practices shared their success stories.

Yevheniya Lukash, the owner of Evgakids, children’s clothing company, shared her experience on how the positive interaction/collaboration with a competitor (i.e., external stakeholder) has strengthened her business.

Ruslana Ryamarska, the owner of the family-run bakery Budmo Zdorovi (Smakuli cookies) shared her company’s experience, including challenges, in implementing socially responsible employee practices (i.e., internal stakeholders).

Read
Top-5 interesting facts about international trade between Canada and Ukraine
01/09/2020

The Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement came into force on August 1, 2017. Starting from August 2017, Ukraine eliminated import duties on more than 70% of imports from Canada.

For other agricultural and industrial products, Ukraine will gradually open its market over transitional periods of 3, 5 or 7 years. Canada immediately eliminated tariffs on 98% of Ukrainian goods.

What are the main results for businesses in targeted sectors after three years of free trade between Canada and Ukraine?

  1. Canada’s exports to Ukraine with the largest increases include fish and seafood, machinery and mechanical appliances, motor vehicles and parts, meat, and electronics. For example, in June 2020, Ukraine was the fourth‑largest destination by volume for Canadian fish and seafood exports.
  2.  In 2019, Canada supplied 70% of Ukraine’s total imports of frozen crustaceans, cold‑water shrimps and prawns.
  3. In 2019, Ukraine also imported from Canada almost half of the prepared cranberries (46% of total imports) and 20% of diamonds.
  4. Canada’s imports from Ukraine that have expanded the most include iron and steel, electronics, and preparations of vegetables.
  5. Ukraine supplied 26% of Canada’s total imports of apple juice and 6% of snow‑skis in 2019.

According to Canadian experts, Canadian businesses that produce vehicles, engines, turbines, airplanes and turbo‑jets, petroleum gases, ethylene polymers, rubber, wood pulp, and meat have the strong economical potential in Ukraine.

At the same time, Canada offers more competitive prices for Ukrainian companies producing air conditioners, unwrought silver, cobalt, uncoated paper and paperboard, narrow woven fabrics, machinery and parts, fork‑lifts and other work trucks.

You can find more information via the link.

Read
Covid effect as a window of opportunity for Ukrainian exporters in Canada
22/07/2020

The Сovid effect turned out to be equally unexpected and devastating for all countries of the world without exception, including Canada and Ukraine. It is known, however, that every stick has two ends, that is, thanks to the dangerous virus, all countries and manufacturers are on equal terms and have the same restrictions.

Life does not stop and the need for good-quality goods, clothes, shoes, food, furniture, etc. cannot be cancelled. The demand, of course, changes, transforms, sometimes decreases, sometimes, on the contrary, increases.

Preference is given to the products that are produced locally, or elsewhere, better not in China (but at Chinese prices!). This is a consequence of the aggravation of economic relations with China recently, on the one hand, and the desire to try something new, on the other hand.

According to many experts, consumers are even willing to pay more for local products.

Traditional personal communication during industry events or trade missions is replaced with virtual video conferencing, messengers and online platforms. This is where significant benefits for Ukrainian producers appear.

First, Ukrainian goods are trusted in the local Canadian market due to the large diaspora.

Second, what is produced in Ukraine is a kind of synonym for what is produced in Europe. Hence the respect and understanding that production is based on international and European social and environmental standards – without the use of child labor or uncertified raw materials. The focus of Ukrainian manufacturers on European trends and the latest fashion innovations also remains important.

All this taken together opens a wider window of opportunity for Ukrainian exporters to Canada, which is worth taking advantage of. Canadian buyers are interested in finding reliable business partners in Ukraine.

That is why a properly prepared and successfully conducted virtual meeting is a guarantee of mutually beneficial business relations in the future. Everything is like in a theater here: you have to dedicate a lot of time, sweat and blood in preparation, training and coaching to enjoy a moment of glory on stage in the spotlight.

Why won’t the virtual format of meetings disappear after the end of the epidemic?

The reason is obvious: it is beneficial to meet online given the saving of time and money.

Although the virtual format will in no way replace live communication, we advise you to learn this know-how and use it more actively in your business communications.

Author: Olga Shtepa, CUTIS project coordinator 

Read
CUTIS buttresses the development of Ukrainian exports and trade in services
27/05/2020

Trade in services is a dynamic area where new and non-conventional negotiating instruments and techniques emerge (e.g., ‘negative’ and ‘hybrid’ listing approaches, ‘standstill’ and ‘ratchet’ clauses, etc.). Therefore, it is vitally crucial for Ukrainian services negotiators to strengthen their negotiating capacities and skills with the new/emerging negotiating instruments and techniques.

On May 22, the CUTIS project held a webinar for government officials on negative listing scheduling techniques in trade in services.

The event is intended to refresh participants’ memory of how services are traded and delve into the peculiarities of the ‘negative listing’ technique, which is new for Ukraine.

The webinar was addressed by Pietro Poretti, an independent trade consultant, a member of the Secretariat of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and a participant in the negotiation process of free trade agreements in the past.

Pietro provided the participants with the knowledge and techniques to schedule commitments for service sectors or sub-sectors under the so-called ‘negative listing approach’. He drew the difference between ‘positive’ list (traditional under the GATS), ‘negative’ list (e.g., CETA), and ‘hybrid’ approach (e.g., TiSA).

The CUTIS project expects that new knowledge prepare Ukrainian officials for the negotiations on services as well as to buttress the capacity of Ukraine’s representatives in current FTAs negotiations with other countries.

Read
Ukrainian companies may attend the largest Canadian apparel virtual tradeshow for free
15/05/2020

On May 25-29, the Apparel Textile Sourcing (ATS) exhibition, one of the largest international apparel and textile sourcing events, is holding the world’s first VIRTUAL tradeshow.

ATS-Virtual will connect apparel & textile manufacturers and buyers, all currently restricted from international travel. Over 2M international buyers & brands invited to attend.

Ukrainian companies may attend the tradeshow FOR FREE.

The attendances will get:

  • Free sourcing, education, matchmaking & more.
  • Interactive seminars from apparel & sourcing industry experts.
  • Five show days & 24/7 access for a month after the event.
  • Exhibits from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia & the Middle East.
  • Live chats, virtual networking, engagement made simple.

The manufactures may have their own booths at the ATS-Virtual. The costs are 1/3 the price of traditional trade show booths.

To get more information and register, please follow the link.

Apparel Textile Sourcing trade shows are a global industry destination that provides a unique platform for manufacturers, distributors, apparel & fabric buyers, merchandisers, retail chains to find new business contacts, share experiences, learn new ideas and create business opportunities.

Ukrainian apparel products were presented at ATSC three times and caught the interest of Indian, Chinese and Pakistani companies, which considered the possibility of locating production capacity in Ukraine.

Read
Rules of origin for apparel and footwear under the CUFTA – video
31/03/2020

In order to obtain preferential access to the Canadian market under the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), the product must be of Ukrainian origin.

The rules of origin impact on:

  • Import duty rates
  • Tariff quotas
  • Export trade statistics

It is essential to know that a declaration of origin of the goods is the only document Ukrainian producer needs to confirm the origin.

What does this mean for Ukrainian business?

Ukrainian companies don’t have to receive any additional certificates. The origin information shall be indicated on an invoice or any other document containing the description of the goods. Therefore, it means reducing financial and time costs for customs clearance of export products.

You can find out more about rules of origin for Ukrainian apparel and footwear goods under the CUFTA from Olexandra Brovko, CUTIS Senior Expert on Trade and Investment.

To free download the manual – I CAN Export: Rules of origin under the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. Guidelines for Exporters (in Ukrainian), please follow the link.

Read
Ukrainian women entrepreneurs in Paris – a new chapter of the SHEforSHE mentorship program
18/02/2020

With the support of the CUTIS project, three Ukrainian women entrepreneurs Olesya Timoshyk (TimiTex), Eugenia Lukash (Evgakids) and Kateryna Volkova (Sasha) participated in the largest French textile and apparel exhibition, which took place in Paris from February 10 to 13. That was part of the CUTIS SHEforSHE mentorship program aiming to support the development of women’s businesses in Ukraine and promote their products in foreign markets.

One other Ukrainian company, Jenadin, a knitwear manufacturer, participated in the exhibition catwalk.

The mentor of the SHEforSHE program is Maria Terekhova from Trade House New Fashion Zone, who already has successful experience in promoting Ukrainian apparel in foreign markets.

“For us, as a company that is just planning to enter international markets, participating in such exhibitions is a necessary and very important step. It is an opportunity, at the least, to feel the needs of the market and the requirements for manufacturers, and, at the most, to find new customers”, Olesya Tymoshyk from Chernihiv said.

For Eugenia Lukash (Kherson), founder of Evgakids online children’s clothing store, a trip to Paris also became the first experience of participating in an international apparel exhibition.

‘We are very grateful to the CUTIS project for this opportunity. The Apparel Sourcing Paris is so impressive. We are proud that our first international exhibition is the biggest garment sourcing show in Europe with more than 600 exhibitors from all over the world,’ Eugenia Lukash noted.

According to Kateryna Volkova from Slavutych, who produces children dresses under Sasha trademark, participation in the Apparel Sourcing Paris was a great opportunity to expand to new markets, establish contacts with new partners and present new products.

Jenadin’s participation in the catwalk has become a real highlight of the event. The Ukrainian knitwear producer was highly appreciated by the Parisian public. This success is significant for the producer given the fact that it was the first time for Jenadin to demonstrate its models at such a top international fashion show.

‘I’m very happy that we could present our collection, and also represent Ukrainian manufacturers at the Apparel Sourcing Paris. I want to thank the CUTIS project for giving us this opportunity and unbelievable experience,’ Jenadin CEO Nadiia Koziarivska said.

Maria Terekhova gave a presentation at the Apparel Sourcing Paris regarding benefits that international partners may have working with Ukrainian apparel companies. Maria made a brief overview of the Ukrainian apparel market and spoke about the specifics of searching a business partner in Ukraine.

“Events such as the Apparel Sourcing Paris exhibition are a great opportunity to present Ukraine as an interesting partner for private label production and fruitful cooperation with international retailers. During the event, we got acquainted with African and Latin American buyers. It’s a whole new negotiation experience for us”, Maria mentioned.

According to Olga Shtepa, CUTIS project coordinator, the participation of four Ukrainian companies in the international exhibition in Paris once again confirmed the opinion that Ukrainian companies are fabulous.

‘Businesses are usually established by intuitively searching for potentially profitable market niches and creating products suitable for their founders, but in a very short time, they may grow to the level of a national manufacturer, or even higher. They start planning strategic export activities, creating new jobs and conquering international podiums. Therefore, it is a pleasure to be part of the CUTIS project and the SHEforSHE mentorship program aiming to help grow such businesses and support their efforts to enter the global arena, ‘Olga Shtepa summarized.

Read