Dear guests and participants of the Forum!
I am grateful for the possibility to take part in this remarkable “ISRAELI - UKRAINIAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM”.
The event is dedicated to the 25th years of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Israel.
All those 25 years Ukraine attaches special importance to the development of cooperation with the State of Israel, our important partner and reliable friend.
Geographically, Ukraine and Israel are not neighbors. However, political, economic, cultural, human interests know no distances. It is confirmed by our relations.
Over this period between the two countries has been established an active and regular political dialogue on the presidential and inter-governmental levels as well as an intensive inter-parliamentary cooperation. In addition, we have a very positive progress in economic and investment cooperation.
Just recently, we held two visits of the Ukrainian President Mr. Petro Poroshenko to Israel, a visit of the Israeli President Mr. Reuven Rivlin to Ukraine, a visit of the Speaker of Knesset Mr. Yoel Edelstein to Ukraine, two meetings of the Ukraine-Israel inter-parliamentary groups of friendship and in October the 9th Session of our intergovernmental Commission. And, at the end of this year, in a week and half, we are preparing for the visit of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mr. V.Groysman. This is only a pick of an iceberg. Behind that one will find lot more low level official delegations and humanitarian exchanges that are playing important role for our relations and for the future or our people.
An intensive exchange of views carried out on a wide range of issues of the Ukrainian-Israeli cooperation, as well as urgent international and regional issues. Mutually beneficial trade and economic ties and cooperation in culture, medical, education and science have been developed. Both sides have worked very hard for the new agenda for further cooperation.
In fact, the main directions of cooperation between the two countries in economic, scientific and investment areas have been formed. The next important step towards the deepening of the Ukrainian-Israeli relations is to introduce a Free Trade Regime between the two countries.
Of course, the implementation of the mentioned new agenda for further cooperation is long-term and painstaking work that requires perseverance and significant governmental support. And, I have to assure you that we are doing it step by step by intensify all necessary contacts at the level of ministries, different governmental agencies, and of course enterprises and companies.
We need your support. Because, everything we do – we do it for you, and… we cannot do it without you.
Dear friends!
I am very grateful for every one of you, who came here to this Forum with an intention to intensify ties between out nations in social and economic spheres.
And, I am really grateful to everyone at “Israeli Friends of Ukraine” together with “Global Ukraine”, and Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Fund and others for their great job for strengthening bilateral relations between our countries.
During last years, these organizations made number important and vital humanitarian, cultural and social projects in Israel and Ukraine.
Today we are witnessing an opening of a new page in our relations. Israeli - Ukrainian Alliance, is a new formation of international professional initiative that provides high-quality strategic entrepreneurship opportunities for companies and organizations of all types and sizes to cooperate in Israel and Ukraine by engaging Israeli and Ukrainian diaspora all over the world.
In this regard, I would like to wish them and every participant of the Forum new achievements, aimed at strengthening the Ukrainian-Israeli friendship and expanding of mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries.
Thank you.