On December 18 the Context Talks experts and participants discussed the state and prospects for the Ukrainian logistics, development of various areas and the capacity to transform Ukraine into the manufacture and logistics hub.

Prior to starting the discussion Eduard Maltsev, kmbs Professor and Head of Presidents' MBA, remarked that a common vision is what all the market players need in order to accelerate their way to the goal. Without a great Idea around which the key stakeholders will join together, Ukraine will be unable to make a great leap and have an impact on the international level.

During the event the following experts shared their suggestions for the common vision: Vira Dobachevska, Founder and Chief of Kyiv Logistics School; Oleksandr Tkachuk, Founder and CEO of transportation company Quadro Center Ltd.; Oleksiy Severyn, Sales Director of Ekol Ukraine; and Pavlo Pisnoy, CEO of Garant Service and Founder of Smart Way startup.

According to Oleksandr Tkachuk, among the major issues with Ukrainian logistics is the absence of infrastructure and the complexity of paperwork, namely at customs. And the sector can evolve only due to the Ukrainian agriproduct, as even in the times of crisis or turmoil the agriproduct still can maintain the economy on a certain level.

Also, during the discussion Oleksandr Tkachuk and Vira Dobachevska have agreed that one of the steps that should be taken right now to take the sector to the next level is to promote, popularize the Ukrainian product and to challenge the stereotypes with the help of the success stories, which Ukraine has a bunch. It will enable to create a right image of Ukraine for international companies.

Surely, such an image should be enhanced by the favourable investment climate which would compel international companies to invest in Ukraine. This direction for the development was aligned by Oleksiy Severyn. In his opinion, from the geopolitical point of view Ukraine is interesting to the world; however, the current infrastructure does not correspond to this interest. So the expert advised to start with creating innovational production and industrial parks in Ukraine — and through the manufacturing to engage the state into the formation of the favourable investment climate.

Pavlo Pisnoy also shared his vision. According to him, at first one has to work out the typical «misery» of the Ukrainian logistics — the absence of infrastructural solutions, complexity of the custom procedure and of the market accessibility. Therefore, he sees the prospects for the logistics in the development of multimodal transportation and in the creation of logistics chains, tax-free zones with some countries bordering Ukraine. As it is also an opportunity to learn from others’ experience, innovative solutions, and to further the solution of the current problems.

We would like to thank all the experts and participants to the event for the valuable discussion and first steps towards the formation of the common vision as for the development of the Ukrainian logistics!