Even amid its war with Russia, Ukraine is open to do business with the Philippines as the two countries prepare to create a joint trade commission to enhance economic cooperation, Ukrainian Ambassador to Manila Yuliia Fediv said.

The envoy led the Special Forum on Ukraine–Philippines Landscape hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) held at the historic Chamber Building in Intramuros, Manila on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Using technology and digitalization to remain connected with the rest of the world despite its ongoing conflict with Russia, the ambassador stressed that her country wants to work with the Philippines in cybersecurity, information technology, fashion, publishing, agriculture, and security.

“As I said, digitalization is also what helps us during the war to be still open to the world… we are in a state of war, but we are open to cope with you,” she said.

Fediv shared that the Ukrainian government already sent a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) to the Philippines for the creation of a joint commission on trade, investment, and scientific technical cooperation, but they are still waiting for the “official answer” from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

“Hopefully, this October, we will have high-level delegation coming from Ukraine to Philippines and hopefully, we can sign already this agreement on creating joint commission because I believe in joint commission then we will have, you know, meetings each year then we have B2B (business-to-business), expos, etc.,” the envoy said.

She also expressed hope that an MOU on agriculture, as well as on cybersecurity and combatting disinformation, will likewise be signed.

“I think agriculture is one of the main sector which could be the interest for businesses of both countries,” the ambassador added, citing meat, wheat, and eggs as top Ukrainian agricultural export products.

Aside from agriculture, Fediv said there is also interest in cooperating on electronics, high-tech, mil-tech, and fin-tech solutions, as well as on pharmaceutical, cultural, fashion, and publishing.

“And also I'm meeting with representatives of small and medium enterprises in Philippines working in the domains of creative industries like fashion, publishing. And it would be also the interest for Ukrainians. And I hope also for the Filipino business,” she said.

She also cited how the creative industries in both countries have contributed to their respective gross domestic product—four percent for Ukraine and six percent for the Philippines—and how the Filipino and Ukrainian diasporas can work together to exchange knowledge even if they are away from their home countries.

“Why creative industries? Because it's about people. I think Ukraine and the Philippines share in common that our main assets are people and people brains. Many of our countrymen studied abroad. There are almost 15 million overseas Filipinos, and around now, because of the war, also almost 15 million overseas Ukrainians, as to say,” the ambassador pointed out.

“And I think both of our nations, they have strong abilities in almost the same sectors, like the service sectors, like social affairs, cultural affairs, healthcare,” she added. “So maybe also we cannot only cooperate bilaterally, but also being cooperative on the territories of the third countries, even taking into consideration the chamber of commerce.”

Ukraine, she furthered, has been working with the European Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) “because, for us, it's important to make Ukrainian businesses seen in the Philippines and vice versa.”

Fediv boasted that despite being in a “state of war,” Ukraine has build at least three online platforms—CodeUA, Nazovni, and Rebuild Ukraine—to make sure that other countries can still do business with Ukraine.

She invited Filipino businessmen to check out the three online platforms to tap the rich potential of working with Ukrainian businesses.

“So Nazovni, Rebuild Ukraine, and CodeUA are three platforms which were created by Ukrainian government in order to make approachable Ukrainian businesses for their international counterparts,” she said.

CodeUA is an online platform for Ukraine’s IT sector, while Rebuild Ukraine has all the projects for Ukraine’s recovery and allows international businesses to find a project they are interested in and invest in the Ukrainian economy.

Nazovni, on the other hand, allows international businesses to build their profiles so Ukrainian businesses can approach them directly.

“So it's like an online meeting point for Ukrainian and Filipino businesses to get to know each other and also to build the digital connections,” the ambassador explained, adding that she hopes there will be “offline connections” between the Ukrainian and Philippine business sectors in the future.

Fediv lamented that because of the war, Ukraine “cannot use the same tools as peaceful countries” but stressed that everyone is welcome to Ukraine to do business.

“But you know, you're welcome to Ukraine. We will give you visas, just go see Ukraine. See with your own eyes. As I said, we secure the guarantees we have,” she assured.

The ambassador gave the remarks during the event hosted by the CCPI, the country’s oldest business institution.

The event gathered Chamber members, business leaders, academe, and media “for an insightful exchange on resilience, partnership, and global cooperation.”

CCPI President Jose Luis Yulo Jr. highlighted the Chamber’s continuing role in fostering international dialogue.

“Today’s event, the Chamber continues its heritage of advocacy for business and economic development, this time, between the Philippines and Ukraine,” he said.