The Investment forum “Prospects of commercial sea ports of Ukraine” held on April 1, 2016 in Odessa was devoted to the issue of investment potential of the sea transport system of Ukraine and projects aimed at implementing innovations projects in this area. The Forum was organized by a group of companies “Fleiman Group” jointly with the Kominternivsky District State Administration of the Odessa region. The Better Regulation Delivery Office BRDO expert, head of the Rolling Review project Oleksiy Dorogan was a forum’s moderator.
During the forum, representatives of government bodies, international organizations, Ukrainian companies, investors from Ukraine, France, Turkey and Azerbaijan had an opportunity to discuss port industry problems, ways to increase the export and import potential of the country as a modern European hub on the Black Sea openly and professionally. They paid a special attention to the presentation of capabilities of Ukrainian ports to attract both domestic and international investors to develop the sea transport system of Ukraine.
The Odessa region governor Mikheil Saakashvili opened the Forum. The head of the Kominternivsky District State Administration Dmytro Natalukha, EBRD and US Chamber of Commerce representatives, port directors, representatives of investment, financial, logistics and consulting international and Ukrainian companies attended the Forum as well.
An integrated project of grain export terminal from one of the largest Turkish companies was presented at the forum. During the presentation, project authors declared that this project would significantly increase the export level of flour and grain products from Ukraine to most parts of the world.
“Transport sector is one of BRDO working priorities. That’s why our team constantly monitors all trends in major segments of this industry. We are trying to get information on the situation and prospects directly from experts: relevant civil servants, businessmen and investors. Participation in such events allows us to keep “abreast” and effectively handle tasks to reform the regulatory policy. It is possible to create a new quality regulation only by using a feedback from business,” Oleksiy Dorogan said.
World Bank’s EBA (Enabling the Business of Agriculture) group experts analyzed the impact of main factors on doing business in the agribusiness sector in 40 countries. Ukraine demonstrates the level, which significantly higher than the average market level, in terms of 4 of 6 main analyzed indicators (overall level of the development of the agricultural, seed and fertilizer market and existing equipment). This level is lower just in terms of funding and logistics. According to the report, improving the country’s ranking will be associated with changes in those areas, where the Ukraine’s EBA ranking is below the average – agri-finance, transport and logistics.
The Sea Ports Authority (USPA) estimates that currently commercial sea ports of Ukraine have capacities for loading 42 million tons of grain (without including ports of temporarily occupied Crimea). Ukraine’s grain export has been demonstrating the positive dynamics over the past few years. This picture confirms long-term benefits of grain loading projects in ports and the high investment attractiveness of the industry.