Doing business
Among the many world outstanding partners of Ukraine, Poland has done the most for our state.
Poland was one of the first to lend a helping hand when the threat of annihilation loomed over Ukraine. The Polish Lower Silesian Voivodeship, which is a partner of the Dnipropetrovsk region, provides humanitarian assistance on a permanent basis: medical supplies and tactical medical equipment, baby food and durable products, cleaning products and hygiene products for adults and children, bed linen and blankets, mobile chargers; and three specialized medical vehicles as well.
“For us, Poland is not just a neighbor state. This is a true friend and ally of the entire Ukrainian people. Dnipropetrovsk has been cooperating with Lower Silesian Voivodeship for a long time. Since the beginning of the war, we have repeatedly received humanitarian aid from our partners, who do not stand aside. We highly appreciate both this support and the contribution of our friends to the formation of European values in Ukraine as a whole. I am grateful to Poland for helping us when we need it the most. Now Ukraine is writing a new history, and we will never forget the contribution our friends made to this history,” said Mykola Lukashuk, head of the regional council.
Starting from the first day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Poland declared its readiness to accept refugees. The country provides food, housing and legal assistance to every internally displaced person, as well as helps to find a job. In order to cope with the number of refugees, Polish employers have changed the format of their work, simplified the procedure for obtaining the necessary documents and focused on workplaces specifically for women.
In addition, Poland has become the initiator of financing the construction of modular towns in those settlements of Ukraine where there are lot of migrants.
During hard times, when Russian aggression against Ukraine has undermined the entire system of European and world security, relations between Ukraine and Poland are of particular importance, and the sincere assistance of the Polish people to Ukrainians starts a new page in the history of these two states. Poland provides Ukraine with consistent support on its path to European integration and takes an active position in the course of discussions within the EU Council on the need to quickly grant Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership, which in modern historical conditions is of great symbolic importance.
On April 23, Ukraine and Poland signed a memorandum that will significantly increase the volume of rail transportation of Ukrainian exports to the EU and world markets through European ports. Under this agreement, a joint venture will be created as well.
From the very start of the war, Poland has become the main logistics hub through which humanitarian and military aid flows to Ukraine. It is the Polish ports, railways and roads that help to process a huge number of cargo planes, trains and cars coming from the allied countries.
The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development of Poland have reached an agreement on the abolition of permits for all carriers engaged in international transportation of fuel. The new rules have already entered into force, and both Ukrainian and Polish carriers can take advantage of them.
Poland is not limited to humanitarian aid, since the beginning of large-scale hostilities, it has transferred military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of $1.6 billion, as well as more than 200 T-72 tanks.
The analysis of export and import activity of the Dnipropetrovsk region with Poland also demonstrates a high level of partnership, because this state is one of the key trade and investment partners of the region. There are 26 Polish companies operating in the Dnipropetrovsk region, which have invested $3.3 million in the region’s economy. Poland ranks second among exporters from the region and 4th in imports of goods among the other countries of the world.
According to the results of 2021, the volume of exports of goods from the Dnipropetrovsk region increased by 66% ($885.2 million), which amounted to 16.9% of the volume of Ukraine to Poland. Among the goods that are in the greatest demand among Polish consumers are iron ores and concentrates, ferrous metal products, glass and glassworks, plastics, etc.
Export operations were carried out by 246 enterprises from the Dnipropetrovsk region.
The main exporting companies are enterprises of the mining and metallurgical complex, mechanical engineering and processing industry.
TOP-5 exporting enterprises (ranking by volume of exported products):
Imports of goods from Poland to the Dnipropetrovsk region amounted to $298.4 million (6% of Ukraine’s imports from Poland) and increased by 24% compared to 2020. Dnepropetrovsk region bought more dairy products, mineral fuels, perfumes, cars, equipment and more.
Import operations were carried out by 559 importing enterprises.
TOP-5 importing enterprises (ranking by volume of imported products):
Among the promising areas for export to Poland are products of the mining and smelting complex, equipment for railway locomotives, organic products of the agro-industrial complex and light industry goods made from natural materials.