Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Transport, Ukraine

Andris Berzins at the meeting with businessmen who accompanied him during an official visit to Ukraine. Riga, 16.04.2013. Photo: president.lv

"I am truly pleased at the positive talks I had during the visit with Ukrainian officials, and I hope that what we talked about will develop into real cooperation," said Berzins. Latvia is highly interested in the development of cooperation with Ukrainian businessmen, and the Ukrainian market has very great potential, President's Press Office informed LETA.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Latvia Anatoliy Oliynyk emphasized that Ukraine was seeking new cooperation opportunities, and the contacts established during Latvian president's visit to Ukraine would evolve into successful cooperation. The ambassador noted mutual interest, adding that the Ukrainian market had a great potential for development. Ukraine's continuing progress toward the European Union will also help remove obstacles that may still exist between businessmen in both countries, he said.

Latvian Investment and Development Agency's Director Andris Ozols informed what the visit meant to businessmen who accompanied the president. The delegation included 51 businessmen representing 42 companies in total, and they signed twelve agreements during the visit. Most companies represented in the delegation were food processing and logistics companies, chemical industry, woodworking and ICT companies.

More than 215 Ukrainian businessmen applied for participation in the business forums in Kiev and Odessa, during which more than 310 contacts were established between Latvian and Ukrainian businessmen. Ukrainian businessmen inquired about energy efficiency and reducing energy costs at companies, use of alternative energy sources, tourism, cooperation in science and research, joint development and production of medications for the Latvian and Ukrainian markets.

Ozols said Latvian businessmen who visited Ukraine had a very high opinion of the forums and said they were very well organized.

LDz Cargo board member Kaspars Gerhards said that the amount of Turkish-Scandinavian trade was nearing USD 8 billion, therefore the development of the North-South logistical corridor, the container train railroad "Zubr" was in everybody's interest, as it would make freight transport much faster.

As reported, Berzins paid an official visit to Ukraine in mid-March. It was the first foreign visit when Berzins was accompanied by a major business delegation.