Eba in Kkarkiv

Upcoming 23 January 2009
Round Table Anticrisis Management: Strategic and Financial Aspects

27 January 2009
Tax Committee

read more about the city:
http://www.go2kiev.com/view/kharkov.html

New Year Party 23 December 2008

The party was held in Victoriya Hotel. Mr Ihor Sbitnev, the Chairman of the EBA Branch Board, greeted participants and wished them Happy New Year and Merry Christmas. He expressed hope that the next year would bring new opportunities and prospects for business development to the EBA members.

The guests had an opportunity to communicate in friendly relaxing atmosphere and enjoy marvelous views of Chukotka, Yakutia, Karelia, Crimea, Kharkiv Region, portrayed on photos by Volodymyr Ogloblin, the famous Ukrainian photographer, who presented his collection personally.


The culmination of the party was business cards lottery with wonderful prizes donated by the following companies: Axioma, Family Leisure Club Book Club, Pirana, Uralians, Aurora and Victoria hotels.

Upcoming

3 February2009
Real Estate, Investments and Strategic Development Committee Meeting

11 February2009
SWISSCONTACT Senior Experts Corps’ Presentation – Ukrainian Business Support Programmes

12 February2009
Wine Tasting Party

http://www.go2kiev.com/view/kharkov.html

News
Round Table: Anticrisis Management. Strategic and Financial Aspects

23 January 2008

The meeting was held at the conference hall of Chichikov Hotel. Participants discussed opportunities and risks of anticrisis strategies on the example of companies operating in retail and wholesale, food and processing industries, construction, metallurgy and finance institutions taking into account the current economic situation in Ukraine.

Mrs Dovgan from Ernst & Young Business Academy’s focused on the necessity to become proficient with modern methodological instruments and competitive business models in order to continue growth and maintain leadership: “Today professionals need skills to face problems, transform threats into opportunities, and make proper decisions fast and flexibly”.

News from members

The first of February is the starting date for the business idea contest under the name “Right Here & Right Now 2009” initiated by the Avantazh Group. According to Chairman of the Board Yuri Kostoglodov the contest will help Kharkiv citizens who have interesting business projects or business ideas to raise investment. The jury will prefer projects with maximum profitability and with short-term recoupment period. One of the main terms of project selection is fast growing market value of business. The contest will get through in three stages. The 1 of February is the start of order taking. During March the jury will select some projects. Final stage of the contest including awards ceremony will pass in the beginning of summer.

http://www.go2kiev.com/view/kharkov.html

Upcoming 12 February 2009
Wine Tasting Party

18 February 2009
Round Table: Investment Forecasts and Opportunities

24 February 2009
Tax Committee

Tax Committee
23 January 2009

The meeting took place at the office of Axioma company. Anton Pridannikov, Tax Supervisor of Philip Morris Ukraine, presented peculiarities of the State Budget of Ukraine 2009 as compared to the previous ones. He stressed that for the first time there are no amendments to tax laws, which is positive enough.

Mr Pridannikov informed that the EBA got an official response from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of Ukraine to the Committee’s inquiry concerning implementation mechanism of 5th paragraph of Chapter III – Concluding Regulations - of the Law on Urgent Measures To Prevent Negative Outcomes of Financial Crisis and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of 31.10.2008 №639-VI. Unfortunately, the response is not adequate to the letter of inquiry.

The participants shared opinions on Law of Ukraine on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine regarding Decrease of World Financial Crisis Influence on employment sector, the peculiarities of taxation of operations in foreign currency in the condition of UAH devaluation, and KMU’s resolution of 20.12.2008 №1118 which obliges small businesses, which pay the singled tax and VAT to return their certificates of VAT payer to tax offices.

Members voted for Anton Pridannikov, Tax Supervisor of Philip Morris Ukraine, to be the Head of the Committee and Olena Korzhuk, A ccountant from Axioma, as a Secretary of the Committee.

Real Estate, Investments and Strategic Development Committee Meeting
3 February 2009

The meeting was held in Axioma Company. Mr Roman Kordup, Assistant of Honorable Consul of Republic Slovenia to Kharkiv, briefed attendees on the Consulate's activities related to facilitating cooperation with Slovenian business community and attracting foreign investments.

Mr Sergiy Datsenko, Manager of Avantazh, informed attendees about business idea contest Right Here & Right Now 2009 launched by Avantazh Group on the 1st of February. “The contest will help Kharkiv citizens who have interesting business projects or business ideas to attract investment. The jury will prefer projects with maximum profitability and with the shortest repay period. One of the main condition for project selection is fast growing market value of business”, - noticed Mr Datsenko.

In conclusion the members approved the Committee’s working plan for 2009.

General Membership Meeting with representataives of the Kharkiv Oblast State Administration
5 February 2009

Victor Kovalenko, Head of the main Department for Foreign Economic Relations and European Integration of Kharkiv OSA, briefed participants on the main achievements and problems in Kharkiv oblast’s international affairs.

Mr Kovalenko noted the increase of investment in the oblast economy in the last year: as of 1 October 2008 volume of FDI into Kharkiv region’s economy amounted USD 1756.5 mln or USD 629.9 per capita (as compared to USD 459.7 – in 2007). On the other hand, in spite of the increase of export volume, the negative balance in international trade constitutes USD 91 mln during the mentioned period. “Last year we had a close cooperation with three big foreign investors, but the crisis unfortunately and then prevented them from investing,” – acknowledged Kovalenko.

The meeting was held with support of ASKA Insurance Company

Deputy Head of the Main Department of Foreign Economic Relations and Euro Integration Igor Matiushenko paid special attention to anti-crisis measures, approved by the Oblast Council. First of all, low-technology goods should be replaced with domestic ones.

News
Wine Tasting Party 12 February 2009

Participants had an opportunity to taste Italian red wines and to communicate in relaxing atmosphere surrounded by elegant handmade dolls.

The opera singer Oleg Lytenko, People’s Artist of Ukraine, performed 'O Sole Mio and other Italian songs.

Participants enjoyed pleasant surprises, competitions with gifts and lottery. In the end an auction was held. A handmade doll made by the Italian wine producer was sold.


Sponsor – Premier Hotels

Round Table: Investment Forecasts and Opportunities
18 February 2009

The meeting was held in Jazzter Club in Kharkiv. Participants discussed the business problems in Ukraine caused by the global financial crisis: the increase of credit rates up to 24 % by Ukrainian banks, uncertain price for unfinished construction objects, disbalance between capital inflow and outflow, the necessity to attract credits to the country.

Mrs Larysa Alekseyeva, Coordinator of the Berlin Investment Forum’s Projects in Eastern Region, noticed that Ukraine is attractive for foreign investors because of the big market capacity. However, foreigners don’t understand the rules of doing business in Ukraine.

Independent expert Marius Pirringer stressed that abnormal situation was observed in Ukraine before the crisis: real estate costs in Kharkiv were the same as in Vienna.

“To overcome the crisis successfully it’s necessary to introduce quality control according to the European standards, to create professional management systems and to reform the educational system,” – Mr Pirringer noted.