The Ambassador of Ukraine in Pakistan

Evolve: Can you please share with us your first reaction when you were appointed as the ambassador to Pakistan and how you found the Pakistani nation and its people?

H.E.Volodymyr: I arrived in Pakistan early spring, 2012 and my first feeling was the discovery of a new country, new people with distinguished traditions, multi-faceted and diversified culture, warm hospitality, and strong national morale. Also, new for my family and me was the Pakistani cuisine. I remember that during my travels through Pakistan I managed to visit museums and was fascinated by the amazing history and heritage of the country. So, in museums we found relics from the archeological sites of the Indus Valley civilization, Mohenjo-Daro. It happened that later, the postal services of our countries issued the first joint postal stamp and it was dedicated to prominent artifacts from Pakistani Mohenjo-Daro and Trypillia of Ukraine, where scientists also discovered ancient and mysterious civilization that dates back practically to the same period as its Indus valley counterpart. The most astonishing thing is that you could find many similarities in artifacts and the traditions of both civilizations. Looking at this stamp, I smile and say that our bilateral cooperation and ties started as long back as 3000 B.C.

Evolve: Since 2014, Ukraine has embarked on an ambitious reform program, aiming to stabilize its economy and improve the livelihoods of its citizens. Kindly throw some light on the achievements of Ukraine in this regard.

H.E.Volodymyr: Ukraine has made more progress in tackling corruption and reforming government institutions in the last four years since the Revolution of Dignity than in the previous 24 years. And we have achieved all of this under the most challenging of circumstances: while fighting a brutal Russian-led war that has cost thousands of lives, and with a Russian occupation of the Crimean peninsula and the Donbas region crippling our economy.

By the beginning of 2014, as the aftereffect of the pro-Russian regime of the former President, the Ukrainian nation has been faced with the acute negative trends: corruption, inefficient judicial system, exhausted financial system and dysfunctional army. Since the Revolution of Dignity the Ukrainian people decided to take a path of cardinal changes inside the country.

The challenge for Ukraine has probably been greater than for any other country. We must take into consideration the fact during the last 4 years, when it achieved the most amazing progress; it has had to fight a war with Russia and its proxies in the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donets, while at the same time the Crimean peninsula has suffered under the illegal foreign annexation.

Ukraine has climbed from 112th to 76th among the 190 economies in the World Bank’s Doing Business ranking. It is really an astonishing improvement in 3,5 years, to climb by 36 positions. The current steady upward trend shows that we are moving in the right direction. 

Within the tax reform in 2015/17, the Ukrainian government introduced a number of measures to encourage businesses: it reduced the number of taxes from 22 to 11, decreased the number of tax reporting forms and administrative regulations and introduced unified and transparent rules for all commercial entities.

Ukraine has made significant progress in reforming its energy markets. We deregulated the price of gas, since the ability to manipulate the price of gas due to the government system of donations was a key source of corruption.

On the energy issue Ukraine is dealing with European countries and their economies, in the meantime we have radically reduced our gas consumption and are no longer buying gas from Russia. This move helps us protect our ability to shape our own future and it makes us a stronger partner for the EU and the transatlantic community.

Ukraine is rebuilding and reshaping the power and might of the national army. 

So, our economy is growing, efficient and comprehensive anti-corruption mechanisms have been introduced, investment and business climate has been improved, the banking system was cleaned and the state finance indicators have proved that the country is on a sound and stable way of development. All these are confirmed by the leading credit agencies, which have upgraded Ukraine’s ratings. Despite all hardships of war and reforms that are fully under way, Ukraine has been keeping economic growth at the level of more than 3%.

Evolve: The time of this interview is very important, as General Elections have just been concluded. The new government is going to take the charge. How do you foresee the future of Pakistan in light of all these changes?

H.E.Volodymyr: I congratulate the brotherly people of Pakistan with successful elections. They have proved that despite all the problems and even heinous terrorist acts, people of the country chose a democratic way. We wish the newly elected Parliament and the Government fully realize their goals and programs and hope that our ever more strengthening bilateral cooperation in all spheres would contribute to that. 

Evolve: What opportunities exist for Ukrainian businessmen that wish to explore the Pakistani market? Similarly, what is your advice for Pakistani businessmen that are interested in Ukraine?

H.E.Volodymyr: We praise the distinguished gains in our outstanding mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Pakistan and we are very much optimistic about its future.

The volume of trade between Ukraine and Pakistan in the year 2017 reached 220 million US dollars. Our two countries take interest in each other’s market and stress their readiness to exploit huge unused potential for economic cooperation. There is a growing economic interaction between the business communities of our two countries.

Ukrainian exports are dominated by grains and oilseeds, steel products, machinery and technological equipment, food, first of all, dairy products and oils. Pakistani exports to Ukraine mainly consist of textile and leather products, citrus fruits, and rice, plastic and polymer materials, surgical instruments, footballs etc.

A wide range of investment opportunities across industries and throughout Ukraine are offered to Pakistani businesses with full due diligence support by financial and legal professionals that can be obtained per any request. At a glance, investment opportunities and current business projects include but are not limited to: agriculture, energy sector, software development and investing in web media and custom software development in Ukraine.  Also important is modernization of our infrastructure, because Ukraine is seeking significant further development of its transportation networks. This relates primarily to international transportation corridors: seaports, railways, airports and motorways. Good opportunities are open to those who would participate in privatization of state-owned companies in many sectors. All necessary information and assistance could be obtained in the commercial section of the Embassy.

Defense and industrial link between Pakistan and Ukraine is enshrined by more than two decades of fruitful cooperation through the main authorized governmental supplier State Company “Ukrspecexport”, which has culminated in successful implementation of an outspoken magnitude of contracts and projects to the tune of 1 billion US Dollars 

Largely-known supplies of T-80UD Tanks and unparalleled amount of power-packs for Al-Khalid/Al-Khalid-1 tanks as well as top-notch overhaul of Mi-17 Helicopters and handover of  IL-78 aircraft in the previous years have been recently added on with brand-new contracts in this area prove that our cooperation has a bright perspectives and solid foundation.

Apart from that, an extensive menu of projects is currently in progress with Pakistan Air Force and other local defense-related organizations, which are set to turn into brave new vistas to the benefit of both countries in the immediate future.

Evolve: What measures have been considered for extending political and economic relations between the governments of Pakistan and Ukraine?

H.E.Volodymyr: I would like to emphasize that since Ukraine and Pakistan established diplomatic relations a quarter of a century ago the bilateral dialogue between them have always been brotherly and sincere, based upon good friendship and respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. 

I am confident that there is a significant potential for further development of cooperation between our countries in all spheres. 

Pakistan and Ukraine have signed a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income on December 23, 2008 and since 2012 this document entered into force. 

This bilateral Convention provides rules specifying when various categories of income derived by a resident of one country may be taxed by the other country. This document is available for consideration, in particular on the embassy's website.

Our legal base of documents includes important agreements providing a stable and reliable foundation for developing long term projects – bilateral agreement on trade and economic cooperation. Both countries are also going to sign a mutual protection agreement, treaties on maritime and aerial communication. 

Intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held in near time.

The Embassy promotes business-to-business contacts through organizing specialized delegations both ways, establishing direct links between chambers of commerce and industry of both countries.

Evolve: How can Ukraine attract more tourists from Pakistan?

H.E.Volodymyr: Ukraine is very attractive for Pakistani people, as the number of tourists from Pakistan to Ukraine is increasing every year. Since 2016, our authorities have been more actively promoting Ukraine’s tourism industry. Tourists are attracted by Ukraine’s rich history, delicious cuisine and good prices for services. I can admit that medical treatment in Ukraine is becoming increasingly popular among visitors from Pakistan. 

Evolve: How do you evaluate the role of Pakistan as a frontline state in the war of terrorism?

H.E.Volodymyr: Pakistani nation has contributed and sacrificed enormously in the fight against terrorism and its hard efforts both in terms of ground operations and in the field of combating terror financing, are there for all to see. I can assure you that Ukraine highly recognizes Pakistan`s contributions and we hope that all relevant parties of the international community could arrive at an objective and fair conclusion on that. Furthermore, Pakistan has a really unique and valuable experience in fighting terrorism at all the levels and as far as we are dealing with this menace on our territory nowadays, we need it. There is constantly enhancing cooperation between our two countries in the sphere of fighting international terrorism, sharing valuable experience and knowledge. I hope that we are real partners of Pakistan in fighting this evil and ready for cooperation on new levels.

We highly appreciate outstanding cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Ukraine in the military and technical and industrial fields that will proceed in future. 

This area of cooperation is time-tested and has further bright perspectives.  Both countries have become major targets of aggression and terrorism and acquired extremely valuable experience in this field.

Evolve: Ukraine is a very attractive destination for Pakistani students for international education. What are the challenges in this regard and how have you planned to address them?

H.E.Volodymyr: Cooperation in the field of international education is one of the priority and promising areas of the bilateral Ukrainian-Pakistani cooperation. 

Currently hundreds of Pakistanis have been educated in Ukraine in the National Aviation University; Kharkiv State Technical University of Civil Engineering and Architecture - has semi-centennial traditions of specialists training for international community; National Ukrainian Academy of Arts is a state scientific and artistic institution in the field of art, culture, and art history in Ukraine; Igor Sikorsky Kyiv polytechnic institute; Vinnitsa National Medical University; Kharkiv National Medical University.

Graduates of Ukrainian universities are united in the Association which holds regular meetings and culture events, festivals. Absolute majority of them do well in business, governance, and professional activities. Many of them are known widely and not only in Pakistan as prominent scientists, doctors, and professionals.

We also have increased strategic collaboration and exchange of scholars and technical experts, launched joint projects between Pakistan and Ukrainian universities, like Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University and its prestigious Institute of International Relations with Quaid-i-Azam University from Islamabad, both universities have developed fruitful contacts with their counterparts and this would certainly bring positive outcome in the nearest future, and would pave the way for further enhancement of bilateral relations.  

We coordinate our activities with some Pakistani universities that since 2019 students in Ukraine will have the opportunity to learn Urdu language and literature as a basic course in the Kyiv National Linguistic University. 

I wish all Pakistani graduates from Ukrainian higher education establishments will be specialists in their fields and work in the interest of Pakistan and its society. 

Evolve: You work very hard as an Ambassador, what do you do to relax? Do you have any hobbies? 

H.E.Volodymyr: The most favorite sport in our family is skiing. Unfortunately, I do not have many opportunities to ski together nowadays, only during short winter holidays. I am very optimistic about the future of this sport in northern Pakistan and gave support to bringing the first Ukrainian team to the International Cup competitions in Malam Jabba that is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2017. Ukrainian skiers were fascinated to take part in competitions in Pakistan for the first time in their sport career.  Also, they were happy to win many golden medals. 

I wish to the organizers and sponsors of this event, first of all, to the Pakistan Ski Federation and Pak Air Force, to add this and other areas with amazing natural conditions for skiing to a list and map of fashionable winter sports resorts in the nearest future.  

Evolve: Your message to the readers of EVOLVE magazine.

H.E.Volodymyr: I admit that I am looking forward to every new issue of your magazine with unflagging interest and attention. My wish to your readers and all our Pakistani friends never give up on your way to the future of your country.