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Manufacturers from Ukraine and the United States held the first major online conference dedicated to post-war reconstruction.
The event was organized by Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in cooperation with the National Association of Manufacturers. This is the largest non-governmental organization in the United States uniting mostly large American companies.
The conference was attended by such giants of the American industry as Microsoft, Siemens, U.S. Steel and other NAM members operating in Ukraine and the United States. The Ukrainian side was represented by high-ranking Ukrainian government officials and representatives of big business. Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova delivered a welcoming speech.
"This conference is very important because it is about rebuilding Ukraine. The United States is our reliable friend and partner. We must not only be ready to rebuild what was destroyed by the war but also become more efficient in the economy and other areas," Ms. Markarova said.
"Manufacturers have demonstrated unwavering support for Ukraine and denounced Russian aggression," said Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Photos by David Bohrer
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine the National Association of Manufacturers' Board of Directors unanimously voted to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine and support the people of Ukraine. The resolution expresses support for the economic and financial sanctions imposed on Russia and calls for Russia's withdrawal from the World Trade Organization and the termination of permanent normalized trade relations with the United States.
"We support President Zelensky, the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian people as they defend these values today and work to rebuild their country in the years ahead," he emphasized.
In turn, Anatolii Kinakh, President of Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, thanked the United States for its comprehensive support of Ukraine, providing defense weapons, funding, etc.
The leader of the Ukrainian business community noted that a stable economy, jobs and the growth of the general welfare of Ukrainian citizens are also of great importance for the victory over the Russian aggressor.
Anatolii Kinakh invited American businesses that are not yet present on the Ukrainian market to invest in promising IT sectors, restoration of energy infrastructure, modernization of industry and education.
"This is the first such large-scale business conference between Ukraine and the United States. From our point of view, it will allow our partners to learn about the real situation in Ukraine, the business environment and our priorities. And on this basis, to form direct ties, look for common interests, joint projects, business plans, and thus intensify Ukraine's economic activity," said the ULIE President.
According to Denys Kudin, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, the government will provide full support to those US companies that want to invest in Ukraine and conduct economic activity here.
Yaroslav Demchenkov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, briefly outlined the situation in the energy sector which remains difficult due to numerous attacks on critical infrastructure by the Russian aggressor.
Photos by David Bohrer
"We need equipment to repair and restore damaged power plants, etc., and there is a significant prospect for cooperation," he emphasized.
In addition to strengthening economic cooperation, cooperation is desirable and possible in the educational sphere.
Despite the war, the education sector in Ukraine continues to function as normally as possible. On the contrary, difficulties with power outages, the need to stay in shelters for long periods of time during air raids, etc. have led to better technologicalization of the educational process making it more flexible and creative.
"We need to establish direct contacts with American manufacturers operating in Ukraine so that they can help with the translation and adaptation of modern training materials in the field of vocational education. The second is cooperation between universities in Ukraine and the United States, exchange of experience," said Andriy Vitrenko, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine.
On the American side, representatives of Microsoft and Siemens emphasized that it is important for Ukraine to make sustainable progress in the economy and technology, and the corporations promise to support this.
To formalize the commitment of American manufacturers to support Ukraine, NAM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ULIE. The document will serve as a roadmap for cooperation between the two organizations and outlines the key goals and objectives of the partnership. Thus, based on this, work has been organized to prepare individual events and projects for 2023.
The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12.9 million men and women, contributes $2.81 trillion annually to the U.S. economy and accounts for 55% of private sector research and development. NAM is a powerful voice for the manufacturing community.