American-Ukrainian Business Council Formed to Advance Commercial Relations Between Two Nations Amidst Crisis
March 2022
WASHINGTON, DC - The American-Ukrainian Business Council today announced its initiative to advance commercial relations between the United States and Ukraine by convening high-level discussions between U.S. businesses and government leaders of the two nations. The program marks the official launch of the American-Ukrainian Business Council. It will feature annual business missions to Kyiv as well as meetings and roundtables in Washington, D.C. with U.S. business leaders, government officials and visiting Ukrainian officials. Membership in the organization is only open to companies with headquarters in the United States.
Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Europe/Eurasia Eric Stewart will lead the American-Ukrainian Business Council as its CEO and founder. Mr. Stewart made the following statement:
“At a time when the brave people of Ukraine are fighting back against the Russian invasion of their country, we must be doing all we can to support them in any and every way possible. With the American-Ukrainian Business Council, we have created new, open, and ongoing channels for the Ukrainian Government officials to communicate directly with American companies to inform them what they need now and what they will need in the future once this crisis has passed.”
Stewart added: “In the near-term, we are urging U.S. companies to donate whatever technologies, medicine, food, services, and support they can to help the Ukrainian people. We are confident that the Ukrainian economy will once again be an economic powerhouse in Europe presenting attractive opportunities for economic partnerships with U.S. businesses. We will be encouraging robust trade and new investment opportunities once the crisis has passed. It is vitally important that we begin those communications now to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Ukraine.”
Stewart spoke to the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine, Mr. Rostyslav Shurma, this week by teleconference to inform his government of the Council’s creation, mission and work.
Background: The American-Ukrainian Business Council is led by CEO & Founder Eric Stewart. Mr. Stewart has over twenty years of experience working in Central & Eastern Europe, and notably played a role in the U.S. government's recognition of Ukraine’s market economy status in 2006. He manages several business councils across the region, and leads business missions to 10 different countries every year, including most recently to Romania. Mr. Stewart frequently has discussions with world leaders and has received medals and commendations from the Presidents of Poland and Hungary. He regularly appears in U.S. and international media as an analyst and commentator on bilateral and regional economic relations in the region.