Zelensky calls for investing in Ukraine at New York Stock Exchange
Photo by OPU
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky rang the bell during the opening of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), inviting businesses worldwide to invest in the future of Ukraine.
This was reported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy.
"President Zelensky's appearance marked the launch of AdvantageUkraine, an initiative aimed at attracting future investment to the country by showcasing the vast opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture, technology, education, and creative industries, and the enormous potential offered by natural resources and educated professionals," the message says.
To stimulate interaction with potential investors, the Government of Ukraine launched a portal that presents hundreds of investment opportunities and highlights current and future projects to attract foreign direct investment.
Ukraine's Ministry of Culture noted that Ukraine was already a leader in the science and technology sector and is poised for growth, offering well-educated, English-speaking professionals with competitive STEM knowledge. Today, Ukraine has more technology graduates than any other European country and 240,000 citizens employed in the IT sector. The IT sector is projected to grow to 450,000 by 2024. In addition, Ukraine is a leader among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in research and IT outsourcing.
"Today, the indomitable Ukrainian people are fighting for freedom and independence. But we should already think about what our future will be. Despite everything, we all continue to work together in this direction so that Ukrainians have a successful future. In particular, the Advantage Ukraine program invites foreign investors and companies with the vision and courage to join us. We will match the best companies in the world with excellent development opportunities. A determined business that sees the potential in our country will be able to help realize the economic potential of Ukraine and at the same time turn new opportunities into advantages," said the President of Ukraine.
Over $400 billion worth of investment options featured on AdvantageUkraine.com includes public-private partnerships, privatizations, and private enterprises. A project group of investment bankers and researchers, identified by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine with the support of USAID, will work with businesses interested in investing.
"As the world's largest stock exchange, we stand for freedom, investor protection, and unrestricted access to capital. We are pleased to welcome President Zelensky virtually to the podium of the NYSE, a symbol of the freedom and opportunity our American capital markets have created worldwide. We are honored that the president chose NYSE to mark the beginning of Advantage Ukraine and to attract the global business community," said NYSEGroup President Lynn Martin.
To create a safe, transparent environment for attracting business, Ukraine actively seeks investment guarantees from the G7 and the European Union, reforming the country's tax system and creating a legislative framework. The government has already adopted regulations and legislation that allow companies to build a transparent corporate structure, attract foreign investment more efficiently, and use additional mechanisms to protect intangible assets.
Favorable conditions will make it possible to establish Ukraine as the most potent IT hub in Central and Eastern Europe, to quickly and effectively implement innovative business ideas.
According to WPP CEO Mark Reed, with a thriving technology sector and well-known creative industries, Ukraine has the potential to become a global center of innovation. He stated that WPP is excited about the growth opportunities that Ukraine is demonstrating in many sectors.
CEO of Google and Alphabet, Sundar Pichai, said he was impressed by the resilience and talent of the Ukrainian startup founders he met while visiting the Google campus in Warsaw earlier this year. But he thanked Zelenskyi for launching Advantage Ukraine.
According to the President and Vice-Chairman of Microsoft Corporation, Brad Smith, Ukraine offers a tremendous experience to companies that want to invest in technology. That's why Microsoft has invested more than $200 million over the past five years, and that's why his company is excited about the digital transformation that Ukraine's technology sector will bring.
Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, president of the Conference Board's Economic Development Committee, a public policy center comprised of chief executive officers and key executives of leading US companies, praised the efforts of Zelenskyi, the Ukrainian government, and world business leaders to secure foreign direct investment in Ukraine, as the country seeks to reveal his economic talent and rebuild for an independent and prosperous future.
"As Ukraine strives to create the necessary conditions for investment, the public and private sectors have a unique opportunity to work together to create sustainable economic growth, which we actively support," he added.
