Ukraine in Arabic | Roundtable: Ukrainian and African business do not understand each other
KYIV/Ukraine in Arabic/ In the II half of the XXI century Africa has a chance to become the fastest growing continent with a huge sales market. However it’s closed for Ukraine. For 22 years of independence our country has opened only 6 of diplomatic missions in 54 countries in Africa. That indicates a lack of interest on Black continent, a continent of vast opportunities. During the roundtable organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity the problems of cooperation between Ukraine and the countries of Africa were discussed at the Institute of International Relations of Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University.
Africa is transforming from an object of international relations to its subject. In the II half of the XXI century the continent could become the fastest growing in the world; by 2050 its population will increase from 1 billion to 2 billion. Respectively, the sales market will increase twice. According to professor of the Institute of International Relations Vladimir Kryzhanovsky, Ukraine, as a state, does not see the opportunities of African countries.
“Partially there is an explanation. In the past our country was a part of USSR, so it has been cut off from active participation in international relations”, - a consultant of the African Council in Ukraine Ruslan Garbar said. For his opinion, even now having the possibilities, Ukraine does not hurry to develop relations with African countries.
“Recently, the Ambassador of SAR, completing his mission in Ukraine, said that Ukrainian government has no interest to Africa”, - Garbar said.
“Over the past 22 years there was no any contract between Ukraine and the African states. Banking systems of Ukraine and countries in Africa do not work. The Africans requested to bring production, and then willing to pay for it. Ukrainians, in turn, want to be paid first and then to send goods”, - head of The Initiative of the Nation Centre for the Development of Civil Society Natalia Krivutsa said. "We can find partners, we can find banking institutions that are willing to work with us, to look for opportunities. But it's a lot of work, it takes time," - she said.
“There is no place for communication in different spheres between our country and the countries of the African continent. Roundtables can’t solve all the problems. One of the solutions in this situation may be the creation of the House of Nationalities. Such an initiative was voiced by the chairman of th International Union public organization Larisa Abramovich.
Vice-President of the African Council of Ukraine Diallo Issa Sadio thanked attendees for their active position and a desire to develop relations, despite all sorts of obstacles.