Kyiv has opened the first specialised British business centre, the Kyiv Business Centre, which will serve as a permanent platform for developing industrial co-operation between defence companies in Ukraine and the United Kingdom. This was reported by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence.
The Kyiv Business Centre is intended to make it easier for British companies—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises—to enter the Ukrainian market, as security requirements, costs and administrative procedures had previously made a permanent presence in Ukraine more difficult, the Ministry of Defence noted.
The ministry explained that the centre will give British companies the opportunity to engage directly with Ukrainian state bodies, defence manufacturers, the innovation sector and investors; obtain information on Ukraine’s current needs; find partners; and develop joint projects.
The centre is operated by the UK’s Audere Group in a consortium with AMS Global Solutions and Hillmont Partners. The centre is already building a network involving international companies, Ukrainian state bodies, defence enterprises and investors, the Ministry of Defence added.
“For Ukraine, it is important that international partnership moves from individual agreements to systematic industrial co-operation. The Kyiv Business Centre creates permanent infrastructure for this directly in Ukraine—a place where British companies can more quickly find Ukrainian partners, understand the real needs of the defence industry and, together with us, launch new projects,” said Hanna Hvozdiar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.
According to Hanna Hvozdiar, such co-operation will create additional opportunities for joint development, production and attracting investment into Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex.
The Kyiv Business Centre’s work is focused on three key areas: industry, innovation and investment. The centre will help establish business links, attract funding, support joint development and production of defence products, and scale up manufacturing capacity, the Ministry of Defence said. At the same time, the platform will also serve Ukrainian companies seeking British industrial partners or planning to set up subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.
The centre was established with the support of the UK government as part of the implementation of the century-long partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom. The initiative was the result of co-operation between the UK’s National Armaments Director Group, industrial partners and the financial sector.