Ukraine is one of the countries that, since the beginning of 2020, has most increased the volume of imports from the European Union. This is revealed by the latest report on trade in agricultural products prepared by the European Commission. Defined for centuries the granary of Europe, Ukraine is famous for having one-third of the richest soil in the world and for being among the top ten major producers of soft commodities. These are considerations not to be underestimated when you start thinking about internationalization.
Choosing this country as the recipient of an export action in the food processing sector, means contributing to the development of the mechanization of a territory with a strong agricultural vocation, in which definitely stimulating scenarios are outlined and in which there is huge space for Italian exports’ placement. In fact, the Made in Italy of food processing offers highly innovative systems and pioneering equipment, able to meet the needs of Ukrainian SMEs, always looking for Italian business partners, also facilitated by an important and consolidated import-export, which is constantly growing. We recall that there are more than forty types of products meant for the food processing industry in Ukraine, including the sector of processed vegetable oils, vegetable and fruit processing, with the production of tomato and apple concentrate, flour products, confectionery and dairy products. From all this, a high demand for food processing equipment and machinery comes, which some Italian entrepreneurs have already begun to fill, gaining benefits. According to data provided by the Ukrainian Statistics Service, Italy is in first place for the supply of dryers. Currently, most of those used in the country are obsolete and do not cover the needs of Ukrainian users, so the market will be increasingly receptive to such facilities. This is also true in the agricultural machinery sector, in which local producers point out the lack of new technologies. For this reason, the need for these tools is met by imports, in which Italy ranks fourth as a supplier. The opportunities that arise from this scenario are therefore several and push more and more Italian companies to approach Ukraine, but a failed planning of a correct strategy of action does not always lead to the achievement of the fixed goals.
For years, the Italian Chamber of Commerce for Ukraine has supported companies in establishing business relationships with companies in the country of destination and promotes informed internationalization processes. For 2021, the Chamber Institution has designed the Food Processing Ukraine program which, in addition to training through a course about internationalization of sales, aims at three main goals, which mark the phases of the project: promotion, web contact and definition. Subscription to an online platform by all participating companies will be a window for the products and services that will be internationalized. It will give business managers the opportunity to get in touch with Ukrainian realities with whom they will be able to dialogue, maximizing the opportunities of concluding business, thanks to the online trade expo, which will be held from 2nd to 5th March 2021. Four days in which participants will be engaged in enjoying B2B meetings, conferences, exhibitions and seminars, just like they did at physical expositions. This event will open doors to following digital events with the aim of providing entrepreneurs with right tools for achieving success. With the arrival of summer and the hoped decrease in infections, the Chamber of Commerce will be happy to guide the protagonists on a business mission in Ukraine, with personal meetings with the companies with which they have come into contact in the preliminary phases of the project: the deserving conclusion of this rich program.
