President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the founding of a new communication mechanism with entrepreneurs – the All-Ukrainian Economic Platform, according to a statement published on the presidential website.
The initiative is part of state measures seeking to ease tensions with Ukraine’s business sector, which came to a boiling point after the arrest of a prominent investor amid accusations of police overreach.
“Today we are launching the creation of a new mechanism for communicating with entrepreneurs. And not only with the most noticeable ones. We are founding the All-Ukrainian Economic Platform, on which small, medium, and large businesses will be represented. And different regions of our state. And investors, and relocated companies,” Zelenskyy said in an evening address on 26 January.
He stated that the government together with the Office of the President, regional state administrations, and experts should organize the platform’s work.
“The main objective is for this to be a tool for effective communication. So that the dialogue is always supported by operational solutions – what state institutions are doing or changing, and what will create a new, normal history of relations, including between law enforcement and entrepreneurs,” Zelenskyy added.
According to the presidential website, Zelenskyy also signed decrees to establish an Entrepreneurship Support Council under martial law conditions. The council will consist of 7 entrepreneurs, including Netpeak co-founder Artem Borodatyuk and Monobank co-founder Oleh Horokhovskyi.
The announcement comes after government officials and lawmakers met with business leaders on 22 January regarding pressure from law enforcement on entrepreneurs amid the arrest of Ihor Mazepa and raids on Concorde Capital.
Ukraine business-police relations hit crisis point after Mazepa arrest
Update.
On Saturday, 27 January, Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak met with all members of the newly created Entrepreneurship Support Council, Yermak reported on Telegram. The members present were:
- Oleh Horokhovskyi (Monobank)
- Kostiantyn Yefymenko (Biopharma)
- Taras Kytsmey (SoftServe)
- Viacheslav Klymov (Nova Poshta)
- Oleksandr Konotopskyi (Ajax Systems)
- Artem Borodatiuk (Netpeak)
- Dmytro Oliinyk (head of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, Kostopil Glass Factory).
Yermak said the participants discussed further actions and organization of work. Another topic was Zelenskyy’s initiative for an All-Ukrainian Economic Platform “Made in Ukraine,” aimed at facilitating dialogue between the government and small and medium businesses from the regions.
Monobank co-founder and CEO Oleh Horokhovskyi said the council’s first meeting was constructive. “We discussed possible formats and organization of work, our vision, agreed on next steps. We expect concrete actions and changes from the government. The creation of an advisory Council is the first step on this path,” he wrote.
