EBA Yearly report 2011

Dear EBA members,

We are approaching holiday season and New Year's Eve, the year 2011 is coming to an end. It's high time to sum up our common achievements and plan our development for the forthcoming year.

The year 2011 proved to be more intense and challenging than we expected at the outset, and we still face barriers on the way to flourishing economy and healthy investment climate. However it is the synergy of our membership that resulted in tangible achievements and considerable amount of tasks accomplished.

I would like to thank all EBA members for their immense support and contribution to the achievement of our ambitious goals. Despite a difficult road ahead I firmly believe that our common efforts will help our country up the ladder to growth. And herewith I would like to present the results of EBA's performance summarised in the Annual Report.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Anna Derevyanko
EBA Executive Director

The results in figures

Membership

This year 185 new members have joined the EBA. We warmly welcome those willing to join the EBA and thank all who stayed with us throughout these years!

Honorary members - 51

New EBA Board Elected

• EBA President - Tomas Fiala, Dragon Capital
• EBA Vice-President - Alexei Kredisov, Ernst & Young
• EBA Vice-President - Reinier Schlatmann, Philips Ukraine LLC
• EBA Honorary Board Member - HE Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira, Delegation of the EU to Ukraine

 EBA Board Members 

Lobbying activities

Throughout the year 2011 the EBA conducted 187 meetings of its Committees in Kyiv only and 73 in the regions. Over 3000 people attended the meetings. By joining our expertise and efforts we have achieved the results illustrated by EBA Successes and EBA Progresses. Among the most outstanding ones are:

New Committees in 2011

• Grain & Oilseeds Committee – Kyiv
• Electronic Payments Task Force – Kyiv
• Biotech Committee – Kyiv
• Retail Committee – Kyiv
• Customs Committee – Lviv
• Finance and Tax Committee – Donetsk
• HR Committee – Dnipropetrovsk
• HR Committee – Zhytomyr

Events

The EBA provides you with great opportunity to expand your contact base and establish communication between the companies on a personal level by means of participation in a variety of events. The meetings of social and official nature are held on a regular basis and are available for the representatives of EBA member companies only.

TOP-Level Meetings

We voice your concerns to the high-ranking politicians and representatives of Ukrainian and European official bodies by means of General Membership meetings. Among the speakers during these meetings were:

State officials: Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, the Head of the State Tax Service of Ukraine Vitaliy Zakharchenko, the Chair of State Customs ServiceIhor Kaletnik, the Head of State Commission on Securities and Stock Market Dmytro Tevelev;

The representatives of international organisations: IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Max Alier, Head of the World Bank in Ukraine Martin Raiser, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, Ambassador, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine H.E. José Manuel Pinto Teixeira, the Director of the Public procurement and intellectual property, bilateral trade relations Directorate of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Trade Rupert Schlegelmilch;

Ambassadors of European countries: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland to Ukraine Henryk Litwin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of German Federal Republic to Ukraine Dr. Hans-Jürgen Heimsoeth and other recognized experts.

New Projects and Events in Kyiv and Regions

Kyiv

• "Get in touch"
• Business Meetings
• Art Evenings
• Blot therapy for children
• Bowling Tournament
• Business English School
• Customs index
• EBA Weekly Column
• Explore Business Attractiveness of Ukraine
• Family Day
• Leadership School
• Mafia Club
• Marketing school
• PR school
• Talents Parties
• The course of six master classes for management and top management
• Training programme: soft skills in English (business writing and presentation essentials)
• "Window to the EU"

EBA Brussels

The Brussels Branch of EBA has been working intensively on creating positive image of Ukraine in Europe. Our representative attended and co-organised a range of meetings with EU officials, among which were:

• Meeting with the cabinet of Mr. Pawel Kowal, MEP (Poland), Chairman of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, Member of the European Conservatives and Reformists party;
• Meeting with the cabinet of Mr. Albert Dess, MEP (Germany), Member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, EPP Group Coordinator;
• Meeting with Mrs. Iwona Piorko, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner on Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy;
• Meeting with Mr. Gwilym Jones, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner on Agriculture and Rural Development;
• Meeting with the Member of the EU Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, Vice-Chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

Education

We have contributed to the development of over 470 professionals who have attended our schools and trainings during this year. This year we have provided training programmes and professional tutorials in the following schools:

• Business English School
• Leadership School
• PA School
• HR School
• Marketing School
• PR School
• Trainings

EBA Investment Attractiveness Index Q4 2011

Investor confidence in Ukraine’s economy in Q4 2011 has hit the rock bottom and decreased to unexampled 2.19 - down 0.37 points from Q3 reading of 2.56, says EBA Investment Attractiveness Index. The deterioration in investor confidence is driven by persistent doubts over Ukraine’s economic outlook, pressure from state authorities, corruption and opaque taxation practices. 

We firmly believe that Ukraine’s geopolitical choice and steady development of Ukraine-EU relations will restore businesses’ trust in our country’s market. It’s high time for the state policymakers to listen to business community and start working hand in hand, as there is no time to be lost.

EBA Partners and Suppliers

We would like to express our special gratitude to all EBA Partners and Suppliers. We truly appreciate your willingness to contribute and support the EBA in our various activities.

With hope for a fruitful cooperation in the upcoming year!

EBA Corporate Partner

EBA Official partners

EBA Official Event Partners and Suppliers

The EBA wishes you much success, inspiration, and financial stability in 2012. Be well and stay with us!