A Meeting with Representatives of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC) Took Place in Vinnytsia

Yesterday, 21 April, a working meeting was held in Vinnytsia with representatives of Vinnytsia City Council and Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration, attended by representatives of the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC).

During the meeting, practical areas of cooperation were discussed, along with opportunities to strengthen the export potential of the Vinnytsia community and the Vinnytsia region, and, indeed, the prospects for Vinnytsia businesses entering the Norwegian market.

Deputy Mayors Andrii Ocheretnyi and Vladyslav Skalskyy presented the potential of the Vinnytsia community to the guests. In particular, they discussed Vinnytsia’s positioning on the map of Europe, the development of international ties, the city’s functioning during the war, strategic directions for the community’s development, and the implementation of the Green Deal.

Particular attention was paid to the development of the city’s economy, the food sector and industry, support for renewable energy projects, the development of IT and innovation, as well as the community’s current investment projects.

'The Vinnytsia City Council team is consistently working to strengthen the community’s economic resilience and openness to international cooperation. We present Vinnytsia as a reliable partner which, even in challenging circumstances, continues to develop, invest and create new opportunities for business. We understand that development requires not only internal resources but also the ability to build long-term partnerships. It is through such trade and economic ties that businesses gain access to new markets, knowledge and tools for development, whilst the community, in turn, gains additional opportunities for growth and stability,' said Deputy Mayor Andrii Ocheretnyi.

Andreas Tranøy, Senior Advisor at NUCC on Agriculture and Seafood, explained that he has been living and working in Ukraine for five years, so he has experience of working with both Ukrainian and Norwegian entrepreneurs.

'I have been living and working in Ukraine for five years now, so I have a good understanding of the specific characteristics of both the Ukrainian and Norwegian business environments. Our current aim is to get to know the regions better, to understand their areas of specialisation and their potential for cooperation with Norway. We are actively working with entrepreneurs and various communities, holding themed seminars and networking events, as it is important to create conditions for direct interaction between people and businesses,' said Andreas Tranøy. 'We see significant opportunities for exchanging experience and developing partnerships in a number of areas – particularly in the energy sector, where Norway has strong expertise, in the operation of critical infrastructure, in manufacturing, the textile and metallurgical industries, fisheries and agriculture. There are already examples of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries, and we aim to expand this.'

Ihor Tsekhanovskyi, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Regional Development at Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration, presented the economic and investment potential of the Vinnytsia region, outlined key areas of the region’s development and opportunities for expanding international cooperation.

Following this meeting, as part of the business visit, the NUCC delegation held a practical seminar entitled ‘Entering the Norwegian Market’. The event was aimed at representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises interested in scaling up and international operations.

During the seminar, participants received practical advice on:

• the specifics of the Norwegian market and current consumer trends;

• preparing products for export;

• available financial support instruments;

• approaches to positioning and marketing in the Scandinavian market.

In addition, entrepreneurs had the opportunity to ask questions to experts and establish new business contacts.

One of the seminar participants noted that such events contribute to the development of the entrepreneurial environment, open up new opportunities for local businesses and help them integrate into international economic processes.

The event was organised by the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC) in cooperation with Vinnytsia City Council and with the support of Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration.