Ukraine: Opportunities and Challenges

The Financial Times, in partnership with the Ukrainian Foundation for Effective Governance, will gather senior public and private sector decision-makers for a half-day strategic conference on Ukraine's economic outlook, its evolving business environment, key investment opportunities, and the challenges that need to be overcome as the country emerges from the financial crisis.

Chaired by Chrystia Freeland, U.S. Managing Editor of the Financial Times, this high-level forum will feature a keynote address by William Taylor, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, contributions from the Right Honourable Kim Campbell, Chair of the Foundation for Effective Governance International Advisory Board and former Canadian Prime Minister; Ralph Judah, Senior Partner, Monitor Group; and Elena Kuznetsova, Senior Manager, McKinsey & Company and many Ukrainian political and business leaders.

Discussions will be interactive and highly focused, combining up-to-date information with cutting-edge analysis, and giving attendees an unrivalled insight into possible investment strategies within the wider economic and political context. Topics will include:

• How bright is the outlook for Ukraine as it begins to come out of its economic and financial crisis, and ahead of key presidential elections in 2010?
• What measures need to be taken to improve the business environment and create incentives for international companies to invest?
• Where are the most promising regional investment opportunities?
• Which established industrial and service sectors offer the best returns in the short, medium and long term? What are the most promising new opportunities for investment?
• To what extent will Ukraine's membership of the World Trade Organization, and the potential Free Trade Agreement with the EU, open up more sectors for investment?
• Taking all of these issues into account, what are the key challenges to be overcome for Ukraine to become a major destination for international investors?