Fashion of Diplomacy #12 ENG

“Ukraine is in a need of a compromise to get peace and suссess”

ANDRII NIKOLAIENKO Diplomat, the head of of the political party “Оsnova” (The Basis)

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· Practical and theoretical golf classes and game at the field · Master-classes at the golf fields, designed for training and playing · Participating in the weekly tournament at the club · Daily additional program of general physical training · Prizes and certificates of the GolfClub · Tournaments at the additional sport activities · The entertaining events “Rendez-vous at night” at the end of the season · Limitations for usage of the gadgets and for the TV watching

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EDITOR’S WORD: As usual, in August, Ukraine celebrates Independence Day! That is a day when we gained the freedom.

That is a day when we defended the right to freedom of speech.

That is a day we defended the right to freedom of choice.

This year, we are celebrating this day, protecting the achievements of the Revolution of Dignity, defending the territorial integrity of our state.

I appeal to every Ukrainian, from the North to the South, from the West to the East, with the words of the greatest Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko: – “Our thought, our song Will not be lost…

Be proud beloved Ukraine, Nowadays your son is your host!”

Sincerely Yours, Editor-in-Chief of “Fashion of Diplomacy” Anna Avramenko

«Fashion of Diplomacy» №12 Editor-in-Chief — Anna Avramenko

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The issue was realized by: Oleh Yanchenko, Petro Miskovych, Alina Arkhypova, Nataliya Zatyshna, Liudmyla Maistrenko, Serhii Koshka Designer — Artem Shulga Artist — Svitlana Umanska Literary editor — Natalina Zelinska, Natalia Germanovich Translation into English — Aksinia Sinko Photographer — Yevhenii Zatyshny, Yurii Bondarev

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IN THIS ISSUE:

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TRADITIONALLY, UKRAINE HAS BEEN AND REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PARTNERS OF OURS. Alisher Abdualiev — Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Ukraine.

ISRAEL SUPPORTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF UKRAINE, WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE THE ANNEXATION OF THE CRIMEAN PENINSULA AND THAT IS OUR PRINCIPLE POSITION. Eliav Belotserkovsky – Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Israel in Ukraine.

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12 IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US THAT OUR PUPILS COULD HAVE THE FEELING OF COMMUNITY, THE REAL TEAM SPIRIT – AND AT THE SAME TIME – THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE LEADERSHIP. Inna Cogan – the founder of the Canadian educational center CanSchool.

CANADA WILL BE ALWAYS THE TRUSTFUL TRADE PARTNER FOR UKRAINE.

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Emma Turos – Executive Director of the Canadian-Ukrainian Trade Chamber for Ukraine, coordinator of the CUTIS project (Canadian-Ukrainian Trade and Investment Support)

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26 MILLIONS OF THE CUPS OF COFFEE HAD BEEN SOLD BY US LAST YEAR. AND NOW WE MAY DECLARE THAT WE ARE THE BIGGEST COFFEE SELLER IN UKRAINE. Maksim Piatakov — Director of LLC “WOGCAFE”

THE EDUCATIONAL TOURISM FOR THE BIG BUSINESS IS ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IN THE MODERN WORLD. Alesya Tkachova – Director of the GoodWill Company.

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“A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH IS ALWAYS NEEDED — ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS ABOUT MANAGING OF THE STATE” Andrii Nikolaienko – politician, diplomat the chairman of the “Osnova” (The Basis) political party.

THE INNOVATIVE VALUE OF CRYPTO CURRENCY IS THAT IT ALLOWS YOU TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES OF THE NEXT GENERATION. Daryna Kazariants – project manager of MOSBY Asset Progressive Fund Limited in Central and Eastern Europe, professional financier.

44 UKRAINE WILL A SUCCESSFUL COUNTRY, IT HAS ALL THE COMPONENTS TO BE STRONG AND PROSPEROUS STATE. Mohammad Zahoor — a British-Ukrainian businessman.

52 I SEE THE EXPLOSION OF STREET ART IN KYIV AS A REFLECTION OF NEW UKRAINE. Ola Rondiak – Ukrainian-American artist

38 ATTRACTIVE AND QUALITATIVE LONGEVITY TRANSFORMS INTO REALITY. Maya Makushenko – the senior doctor, the dermatologist and the cosmetologist, the owner of MayaMI Beauty Esthetic.

50 THE SUIT FOR THE PRESIDENT – THE SECRET HAS BEEN REVEALED. Steve Kriplani, co-owner of the “The Imperial Tailoring” company.

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BEFORE RELEASE 8

“...Our State appreciates the lives of its citizens and considers each of them as its greatest treasure...�

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Eliave Belotserkovsky told the international diplomatic magazine “Fashion of Diplomacy” about the time when the agreement on a free trade area between our states will start to work, about the history of his family and about those things the Israelis can teach the Ukrainians.

What is the state of bilateral cooperation between our countries in the political, humanitarian and economic spheres?

– We can observe the positive dynamics. After the Revolution of Dignity and after the beginning of the tragic events in the east of your country, of course, there was some stagnation, but in late 2014 the revival of bilateral cooperation between our countries began. Bilateral consultations were held between the foreign ministries of Israel and Ukraine. I would like to mention separately the visit of the President of Ukraine Mr. Poroshenko to Israel in December 2015. During this visit, a number of important agreements were signed, in particular, about cooperation in the sphere of transport security. Now our Embassy has been working on the organization and realization of the visit of Israeli Prime Minister to Kyiv that would be an important impetus for the development of bilateral political, economic and humanitarian relations. Also I would like to emphasize that Israel supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine, not recognizing the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, and it is our principled position. In particular, our Embassy strongly and categorically warned Israeli companies against any form of their activity in the annexed territory.

Regarding economic cooperation, in spite of the period of short stagnation mentioned by me, we have been moving forward, actively increasing the turnover. Speaking about humanitarian cooperation, – and you probably know this – Israel has been assisting those Ukrainian citizens that had got serious injuries at the military actions in the eastern Ukraine.

How can you describe the situation around the Agreement of the Free Trade Area between our countries? Does it face any obstacles or difficulties?

The draft of this Agreement had been agreed during the visit of President Poroshenko to our country in December 2015 that I mentioned earlier. It was planned that this agreement would start in the first half of 2016, but we still have to agree certain procedural issues, compliance of which is required by the legislation of our state. However, I am confident that in the nearest future this Agreement will be ratified and it will work for the benefit of our peoples. #12, August 2018

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BEFORE RELEASE Next year, Jerusalem will host the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year, Kyiv dealt with the same problem.

Will our experience of security measures conducting be useful in your country?

– Ukraine had hosted this competition at a very high level. All security standards were met. Israel had already had an international song contest and therefore there are certain achievements with us, of course. But the world has been changing and the nature, scale and character of terrorist threats are changed either – so, we would be grateful for any security assistance during the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.

Many Israeli politicians and statesmen are originated from Ukraine. You were born in Moldova, but your last name speaks of a certain connection with Ukraine.

Is it so?

– Yes, of course. In spite of the fact that I was born in Chisinau, despite the fact that my father, too, was born in this city, the history of our family is connected with Ukraine. I do not know when this happened, but my ancestors moved to Moldova from the Ukrainian lands.

In June–2018, the Ukrainian–Israeli forum took place in Kyiv. This forum was devoted to the Israeli experience of state-building for Ukraine. What, in your opinion, Israel can teach us?

– I do not think that we have the right to teach Ukrainians for some reason.

I am also not sure that I personally have the right to give you any advice.

But we, of course, can – and should – share experiences. What is the useful experience of Israel for Ukraine? This is a difficult issue, but I will try to answer it. You see, we have not had a state for many centuries, and when in the last century our people had to go through the terrible trials that we call The Catastrophe, we realized that we needed the state as an institution that would protect us. Therefore, each of us has a

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BEFORE RELEASE

duty to the State, but the State also assumes responsibility for the fate of every citizen. We have the army service not only for men, but also for women, and our army is the most powerful in the Middle East region. But we all in Israel know the following thing – if one of the men and women who protect Israel will be injured at the military service – the State will take care of them. If they fall into hostile captivity, then the State will do its best and impossible for their liberation. And these words are not the empty ones.

In order to release one of our captives, we released hundreds of enemies from our prisons.

The state appreciates the

lives of its citizens and considers each of them its greatest treasure. And the same attitude of the State to its citizens, I would like to wish for Ukraine and the Ukrainians...

The conversation was held

by Ihor Skrypnyk

#12, August 2018

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BEFORE RELEASE “TRADITIONALLY, UKRAINE IS ONE OF OUR MAIN TRADE AND ECONOMIC PARTNERS”

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Ukraine Alisher Abdualiev has informed the FD about the positive dynamics that has been observed recently in the bilateral cooperation between Kyiv and Tashkent, about the ways through which the Embassy of Uzbekistan popularizes traditions of its ancient country and about his own vision of “cultural diplomacy”...

Mr. Ambassador, please tell us, what kind of changes has your country witnessed since the election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev as the President?

– First of all, I want to thank “Fashion of Diplomacy” for organizing the interview and for the interest to my country, Uzbekistan. Taking this opportunity, I would like to congratulate our Ukrainian friends on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Ukraine and me personally on the Day of Independence of Ukraine, that will be celebrated very soon and to wish everyone peace, wealth and prosperity for Ukraine.

As for your question, I can note that the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev conducts pragmatic and wellbalanced foreign policy. He builds relations with close neighbours and partners on the basis of mutual respect and interests. He wants to maintain friendly ties between countries and peoples, including Ukraine.

If we analyze the results of the country’s foreign policy over the two years during which Uzbekistan’s diplomacy was led by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, I can emphasize the following: customs tax rates have been lowered for more than 8,000 types of demanded goods imported by the domestic market for the purpose of foreign trade developing in Uzbekistan. In particular, zero rates of customs duties were set at 3550 positions and zero excise tax rates for 1 122 items.

The Head of State has maintained a line of constructive cooperation with the superpowers and with the small countries, with the international organizations, based on the principle of openness and balance. At the same time he took on a new level the relations with many countries of the world.

How would you define the actual status of the bilateral trade and economic relations between our countries?

– I can say that our bilateral cooperation is developing quite successfully outside of the intergovernmental political and economic formations. Traditionally, Ukraine is one of our main trade and economic partners.

The volume of trade between Uzbekistan and Ukraine in the first quarter of 2018 achieved 61.7% comparing to the first quarter of 2017.

In the structure of Ukraine’s exports, Uzbekistan has taken the first place in supply of pharmaceutical products and sugar. In its turn, Uzbekistan has substantially increased the export volumes of mineral fertilizers to Ukraine, which the Ukrainian agrarians need so much today.

During the recent Economic Forum held in Kyiv in June this year, a number of agreements were signed concerning the export of Uzbek textiles, modern buses and special vehicles.

Also, the negotiations about the creation of a joint venture that will deal with women shoes production have been held. I can note that the business atmosphere, that prevailed on this forum, gives us confidence in the prospects of bilateral cooperation.

Uzbekistan is ready to take part in the implementation of joint projects in such spheres as agricultural machinery, agricultural products processing, in the setting up of the farms, in pharmacology and others. In this connection, a series of measures aimed at intensifying the direct contacts between the administrativeterritorial entities of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine and business entities of the regions of both countries has been realized. I think that we will do everything we can to ensure that trade and economic relations between our countries develop on the ascendant in the future as well. #12, August 2018

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BEFORE RELEASE There is a large Ukrainian community in Uzbekistan. Many citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan live, work and study in Ukraine. To what extent does this factor influence the positive dynamics of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between our states?

– The presence of the Ukrainian and Uzbek Diasporas, respectively, in Uzbekistan and Ukraine, cannot but influence the humanitarian and cultural cooperation between our states that actually had been initiated during the Soviet times.

In Ukraine, there are two officially registered Uzbek communities that unite the Uzbek diaspora: the Kyiv Regional Uzbek Society “Uzbekistan” that has been operating since 1985 and “Uzbek National Centre Navruz” in Kharkiv that was established in 2006. There are about 110 thousand ethnic Ukrainians in Uzbekistan; 40 thousand of them live in Tashkent. The republican Ukrainian cultural centre “Slavutich”, as well as the Ukrainian city cultural centre “Batkivshchyna” operate in the capital. There are similar centres in the cities of Almalik and Yangiyul.

Currently, more than 2,700 students from Uzbekistan study in higher educational institutions of Ukraine. They are mainly

distributed in such large cities as Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Sumy, Vinnytsia and Kyiv.

Speaking about humanitarian and cultural cooperation, we can note such a direction as contacts in the sphere of education and science that are established between the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and academic institutions of Ukraine. There is also a very close connection in the sphere of health care. In recent years, a number of doctors-pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists, from different regions of Uzbekistan, have been trained in medical institutions in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv.

On 29th of April, 2014 the presentation of the state program “A Year of a Healthy Child” was held in Kyiv. Within the framework of the program, the Medical Centre for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiology of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the EurAsiaHeart Medical Centre (Switzerland), during 2014–2017, carried out on a free basis surgical operations for children with congenital heart defects and elderly people suffering from cardiovascular disease. In addition, within the framework of this project, our Embassy has examined and consulted 40 patients. Today, the issue of establishing a branch of the Centre for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Tashkent is being discussed.

On 25th of May, 2016, the commemorative

УЗБЕКИСТАН–УКРАЇНА UZBEKISTAN–UKRAINE

Sunny Uzbekistan is a treasure of the east You cannot help loving this country: you cannot help admiring Uzbekistan. It is a veritable treasure trove of famous architectural monuments within Central Asia, where time itself has left its “autographs”. Also Uzbekistan is a country of great scientists, artists and craftsmen. Those who have ever been there will certainly want to come back...

Embassy of Republic of Uzbekistan in Ukraine embassy@uzbekistan.org.ua www.uzbekistan.org.ua

BEFORE RELEASE date, the 575th anniversary of the birth of the famous Uzbek poet, thinker and statesman Alisher Navoi was solemnly celebrated in Kyiv. As part of the festivities, an international scientific and practical conference and a presentation of the poem “Farhad and Shirin” in Ukrainian language was held. Advisor of the President of Ukraine, Yurii Bohutskyi, congratulated the audience on the holiday and read out to the participants of the international conference the congratulatory message of the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko.

Nowadays, our Ukrainian friends are considering the issue of establishing a monument to the famous Uzbek poet, artisan and statesman Alisher Navoi in the capital of Ukraine. And this will undoubtedly become a new symbol of the inviolable friendship of our countries and peoples, and will promote the upgrading of the bilateral Uzbek-Ukrainian relations to a new level.

In Ukraine such a new direction of international cooperation as “cultural diplomacy” is spoken a lot about. Our magazine pays much attention to this direction in international cooperation.

What is “cultural diplomacy” for you?

– Cultural relations, as one of the most flexible and therefore most effective instruments in

the mechanism of foreign policy, are called upon to work on creating of a favourable and objective image of a certain country in the world.

In this context, culture, as an instrument of foreign policy, should develop a sense of sympathy for the country, strengthen the positive image of the state abroad, promote the establishment of long-term relations between states, public organizations and civilians, and thus contribute to the establishment of intergovernmental interaction in other fields including in the field of economics.

Today, cultural diplomacy, much more than ever, is becoming a battleground for the minds and hearts of people all over the world. In the era of conflict and instability, the role of culture as a tool of “soft power” cannot be overestimated.

This is an important resource of diplomacy that is used to promote the interests of the state, to improve mutual understanding between different peoples of the world.

Our Embassy is actively involved in the popularization of Uzbek culture and Uzbek traditions. In particular, my wife, Gluznova Abdualieva, on the occasion of the Independence Day celebration of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a presentation of traditional clothes from various regions of Uzbekistan at the Embassy.

The main purpose of the presentation was to familiarize the Ukrainian community and foreign guests with the traditional national clothes of our people. The guests were presented with a large exposition of Uzbek national fabrics, with the collection of costumes of the bride and groom from different regions of Uzbekistan and with the collection of jewelry made according to ancient drafts and skills. Also, within the framework of the event there was a presentation of the special catalogue “Revival of the original traditions of clothes of Uzbekistan regions” that had been prepared and published by our Embassy.

Summing my interview up, I am glad to invite you to the charming and unique Uzbekistan.

I advise you to visit ancient Samarkand, Tashkent, Bukhara, Khiva, in order to feel the soul of our country. You will not only be able to touch the eternity and the greatness of priceless historical and cultural monuments, but also to get acquainted directly with our people and our youth modern life, to get acquainted with the activities of modern enterprises, schools, lyceums, colleges and universities. Uzbekistan is glad to open its doors for you!

The conversation was held by Anna Avramenko #12, August 2018

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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TRADE SAYS Emma Turos, Executive Director of the Canadian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce for Ukraine, Project Coordinator for CUTIS (CanadianUkrainian Trade and Investment Support Project) informs FD and its readers about achievements and new perspectives of the economical cooperation between Ukraine and Canada.

“Canada has been the trustful and the most confident ally of Ukraine” The history of the Canadian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce began in 1992, when a group of Canadian businessmen of Ukrainian descent decided to help Ukraine with the reforming of the economy. Today the Chamber has more than 250 members in both countries and has become the centre of bilateral economic relations between Ukraine and Canada.

Nowadays, together with the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine and Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, with the technical assistance projects, with the Ukrainian partners and with everyone who collaborates with Canada, we celebrate the anniversary of the Free Trade Agreement between our two countries (the Agreement came into force on the 1st of August 2017).

Free Trade Zone between the two countries means not only an opportunity but also a challenge for Ukrainian enterprises. Our countries have developed in rather different ways, although they have a lot in common. The CUTIS project, cosponsored by the Conference Board of Canada and the Canadian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, aims to help in implementing of the Agreement and process exports from Ukraine to Canada in selected 5 priority areas (clothing, footwear, sweets, furniture and IT services). While selecting companies, the goal of the project is to take into account the assistance for the small and medium enterprises and especially for those ones that are run by women.

With the entry into force of the Free Trade Association, the trade turnover between our countries has been gradually increasing, but this is far from the amount of trade we would like to see. In the first four months of this year, exports from Ukraine to Canada (according to Canadian statistics) increased by 29.8% compared to the same period last year. It should be noted that in 2017 we only returned to the “pre-war index” in 2013. The peak of exports from Ukraine to Canada fell to 2005 (more than $ 296 million) and 2008 (about $ 197.5 million dollars). The largest exports of metallurgical products, machine building products, timber and machinery. The assortment has been gradually expanding, and this is promoted by our Chamber, by technical assistance projects, by the work of our colleagues from the Government and our business that has been paying more attention to the Canadian market.

How do we help our businesses to increase the export? Enterprises are selected according to certain criteria, including certification, export experience, quality of products and demand for it,

the company’s readiness to work in the Western markets, etc. Selected companies are trained and consulted by experts from Canada, and then they present their products for the potential partners. As for the training, within the framework of the CUTIS project, by the end of the year, the consultants will be trained for working in most regions of Ukraine and for providing advice how to do business with Canada. Pilot training courses will be conducted for the general public at the end of 2018 – at the beginning of 2019. CAN EXPORT manual that has been published recently and that has been hosted on the CUTIS project site, is essentially a roadmap for those ones who are going to work at the Canadian market. The annexes to it (concerning the five priority sectors that had been mentioned above) are prepared.

Canada is a cosmopolitan state and one of the world’s leading leaders and authorities in equality: in national, gender, different sexual orientation, and so on. Therefore, in each project, including technical assistance projects, there is a gender component. We mean that choosing the industry or enterprise to be supported, we will pay attention to whether there are women managers or owners, how many women work, and so on. The goal is to ensure equal access to resources. For example, among the companies selected by the CUTIS project, almost one-third has female owners or female executives.

Recently, Canada has announced a $ 30 million allocation to support the development of women’s entrepreneurship in Ukraine. These projects will be technical assistance ones.

There are also many questions regarding the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement and these issues deal with the tariffs. I mean certification of products, observance of intellectual property rights, non-tariff barriers. The cooperation between different state institutions responsible for regulatory policy, standardization, product safety control is aimed at these issues. Also, one of the most important issues is the protection of the environment. If Ukraine wants to position itself as a producer of organic and safe products, then it should pass the inspection and receive only those certificates that are recognized in Canada.

Investments embody the separate issue, and we can only name those successful investments that have already returned with good profits and have become a positive example, attracting new investors for cooperation. We dare to hope that last year’s Canadian renewable energy investments will have the same positive result.

#12, August 2018

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EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

CanSchool Learning Centre, founded by Inna Kogan, gives teenagers across Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other former CIS countries an opportunity to obtain a Canadian High School Diploma (OSSD) and to continue their education abroad with certain benefits. In this exclusive interview, Inna Kogan, the founder of this educational project, is telling FD about the prospects and difficulties of implementing modern technologies in our school system.

What inspired you to form this high-tech modern educational establishment?

– As it happened, I am a licensed lawyer practicing in Canada. Having worked in the legal field since 2000, I have encountered numerous cases where young and talented people faced difficulties and disadvantages when seeking entry to Western Universities. Often times, worthy candidates suffered unfairly only because their high school certificates did not correspond to the 12–year high school diplomas required in the US and Canada. They were frequently required to wait a full year doing foundation or other preparatory courses because in former CIS educational systems schooling takes 11 years, while in Canada and the USA – twelve.

Our learning centre was created in order to address this unjust disparity, by giving the

teenagers an opportunity to complete this academic difference of 6 subjects via distance learning.

Canadian high school diploma, which is issued by the Ministry of Education (in our case – of the province of Ontario), allows graduates of Ukrainian, Kazakh and other former CIS countries’ schools, to get acceptance to Universities without delays. They enter Universities on par with their counterparts in Canada and other Western countries.

When starting this project, like with any new initiative, there was no doubt that certain difficulties would have to be overcome. After having run the centre for a period of 5 years, it is safe to say that CanSchool is unique in its approach to preparing high school students for studies at the University level. #12, August 2018

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EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

Why did you choose Canada? Aren’t countries like the USA or European Union states more popular among our youth?

– The Canadian high school diploma allows students to apply to any University in Europe, North America, and even Australia and New Zealand, as long as this University offers its curriculum in the English language. This is one of the reasons why our learning centre is so popular. I am saying this not as advertising, but rather an attempt to clarify the main purpose of the project. In addition, I cannot quite agree that education in Canada is less popular than that in the USA or in the European countries. Canadian Universities are consistently among the world’s top rated higher education establishments. This includes the fields of science and technology, law as well as business management. Importantly, studying at Canadian Universities and Colleges is considerably less expensive than obtaining degrees of comparable quality and prestige in the US or England.

Why did you choose school children attending grades 8 and 9 as your students?

– First of all, this is the age when young adults start maturing and determining their life goals. They start forming their priorities and feel motivated in attaining their educational aims. This is the period when the future adult’s personality is forming. At this age it is important to introduce global values and to expand their horizons. For CanSchool’s team, as educators, it is of paramount importance to let our students feel that they belong, that they are a part of

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a global educational community, where they have a chance to demonstrate their leadership qualities unhindered by their nationality, residence or cultural background. As part of our educational initiative, CanSchool also introduces the feeling of global citizenship, respect for others, empathy, kindness and support for those in greater need. Maybe because CanSchool was created with love and care, students study here with pleasure. Many teenagers come in early and stay late in order to have a chance to discuss issues arising out of their school materials.

In addition to pure educational content, each student has a responsibility to join a charitable cause of their choice. CanSchool works in close cooperation with Happy Paw (helping homeless cats and dogs), “Women in Business” organization (helping orphans), international charitable initiative YMCA (helping those in need) and other worthy humanitarian causes. Taking part in one or several of such projects is mandatory for all of CanSchool’s students.

How many of CanSchool’s graduates were actually admitted to foreign educational establishment after having obtained a Canadian High School Diploma?

– Let me put it this way, there are no students who failed to reach their goals and this is the main reason for my feeling pride in our graduates’ achievements. I am also extremely proud that some of our graduates have received awards, grants and scholarships in Canada.

This is an especially important accomplishment as it is virtually impossible for a foreign student to qualify for a monetary grant in Canada. I am glad to say that CanSchool has allowed our students to overcome this hurdle by obtaining a Canadian diploma. Their knowledge and skills have permitted them to stand out and attract attention to their achievements and leadership qualities.

Our graduates have been successfully accepted in Universities not only in Canada and the US, but also in Germany, Austria, Poland and Holland. The Canadian high school diploma allows students to pursue higher education at any University with English curriculum and content.

#12, August 2018

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EDUCATION IN UKRAINE

At CanSchool, all subjects are taught exclusively in English through extensive communication with native speakers. Our students attend language summer programs and speak fluent English by the time they graduate.

It is unfortunate that not all those who wish to learn English at such a high level can do so by attending a regular secondary school. For many young people wishing to study abroad, CanSchool became a “magic wand” for success.

Over the period of 3–4 years at CanSchool, high school students have to complete 6 subjects of the Canadian curriculum. These subjects form the academic difference between Canadian and former CIS secondary school systems. Some of these subjects are mandatory, while others can be chosen from an extensive list of options. As a part of the program, with the help of additional seminars and training sessions, students are taught how to determine their strengths and weaknesses. This in turn allows them to pick the field of their future studies: whether to major in science, humanities, social studies, etc. Canadian guidance counsellors recommend majors taking into account the student’s personal preferences, and the opinions of the child’s parents and teachers. Additionally, guidance counsellors analyze the future employability prospects of the student’s field of choice. CanSchool’s students are exposed to a vast range of opportunities such

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as taking part in international competitions and tournaments, during which they demonstrate their talents and inclinations. CanSchool, as a learning centre offering Canadian high school curriculum, has access to all opportunities open to regular Canadian students.

In 2018 alone, six of CanSchool’s students received awards for their participation and achievements in an all-Canadian literature and creative writing contest. Four of CanSchool’s students took part in an international business tournament organized by an American University and successfully passed the first round of this competition by creating a unique business idea for a start-up and formulating it into a professional business plan.

At the conclusion of our conversation, is there anything that you would like to wish to the country’s teenagers?

– Our learning centre stands for an important message – CanSchool means “I can!” Therefore, I genuinely wish for all high school students to establish their priorities in life and never to stop half-way to their goals.

You are masters of your own future – dreams will come true!

Nataliya Gabrilchuk

CANADIAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA CAN BE OBTAINED IN YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE

Accepts students attending 8th–11th grades

SIGN UP TO GET YOUR CANADIAN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA – YOUR TICKET TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE! info@canschool.net www.canschool.net

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INTERNATIONAL VECTOR

Alesia Tkachova, Director of GoodWill company for 4 years, arranges business trainings and business excursions abroad for domestic entrepreneurs. What can domestic big business learn from their foreign colleagues? What is coaching?

About all these issues we talk in an exclusive interview for the FD. How long has your company existed?

– We have existed for 4 years.

What are the main activities of your company?

– What is called “educational tourism” can be considered this direction. We arrange trips abroad – first of all to Japan, the United Kingdom and the USA – for the representatives of domestic business. There, they have an opportunity to attend workshops and chat with the world’s most famous business coaches.

What purpose are you arranging such trips for?

– Being still a student I was fond of entrepreneurs.

They seemed to me to be extraordinary people. I was looking for any occasion to talk to them. I asked them a lot of questions about how they started and developed their business. But thanks to this I had a clear picture of what the managers and their companies need. It seemed to me that business training and development programs could become such help. Therefore, I began to explore various trainings, forums, and coaches around the world to determine the directions and opportunities. And thus we have the idea to create “educational tourism”, that is,

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to enable businessmen who are engaged in the development of themselves and their business not only to attend trainings by well-known world speakers, but also to receive professional advice from the international business, which has achieved great success, to get the opportunity of additional contacts.

How many companies have you driven to the USA during these 4 years?

– In November last year, we sent the first group of businessmen to the USA. It was the so-called school of experienced entrepreneurs at the exit. How to identify what is needed on the market? How to find a free niche?

How to turn the idea into a business that works and makes a profit? What do you need to create a team of like-minded people? How to test a product and where to look for potential buyers?

What and how to be presented in a venture capital fund and where to look for investors?

The participants searched for answers from various companies: Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Plug And Play Tech Center, Stanford University, Zappos, TJ Maxx and Four Seasons.

This project was created for leaders – for those who form a business development strategy for several years in advance, who define the investment priorities of companies, that examines new opportunities for business development.

In November this year, we are planning to travel to Japan, where we are going to conduct business excursions with leading local companies. In particular, it is planned to visit garbage processing plants and some of the automotive companies. Above the more precise list, our Japanese partners are currently working, and in general we will visit some companies. This trip is planned to be exclusively business, that is, there will be no trainings and workshops.

How exactly is the group that will go to Japan formed? According to the target requirements?

– Our goal is, first of all, to look at how Japanese businessmen work. After all, there’s a different mentality there. We would like to see what Kaizen is in action, how it is embodied in the production and services. Look at the culture of work in Japan, and more.

Those people who you choose for trainings and business excursions abroad, who are they? Is it a small business? Startups? Middle business?

Is there a big business that believes it has already achieved everything and rests on the laurels?

– First of all, this is a big business that understands that you cannot work through the old procedure. I understand that many of them really rested on the laurels, many of them are hard, that is to say, to move out of location, but many of them begin to realize the necessity of the changes.

For example, there is such a big and powerful company as Pharmplanet, in which the management is trying to make major changes, but 70% of the staff of this company constitutes those people who have been working there for a very long time. They oppose the innovations. Therefore, the leadership is learning to find opportunities and overcome such inertia.

How did you convince the head of this company of the need for the training?

– He travelled with us to attend the trainings of Tony Robbins’s and it was his desire, in fact. #12, August 2018

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INTERNATIONAL VECTOR with an American agency that is happy to arrange similar tours for us. During these excursions, our entrepreneurs can see some ideas for themselves and implement them, returning to Ukraine. This is very important, as Ukraine is already entering the international markets and we have to declare ourselves. But under such conditions, one should also not do what is called the “invention of a bicycle”. We must know what has already been invented and tested before.

What exactly is there a demand for among our business community? Why, in fact, would they like to study abroad?

– We try to meet once a month, here in Kyiv in order the entrepreneurs communicate with each other in the format of B2B. In this way, we define their requests for trainings and business excursions.

What do you think the modern entrepreneurs lack in order to succeed in doing business?

– First of all, energy. There is understanding.

There is responsibility. But there is a lack of strength. That is why, first of all, we went to the training of Tony Robbins, because he energizes very well. For the third year in a row, we have been taking people to the USA. In conversations with business coaches, new problems and new topics for workshops begin to emerge.

Why do not you invite Mr. Tony Robbins to Kyiv?

– We do not have such a task at the moment.

It is very cool when our entrepreneurs go there. They get into a completely different atmosphere. They get acquainted with new interesting people. This is a complete immersion into another surrounding for 4 days. People then come back to Ukraine, having got a lot of new friends and new ideas. Likewise, I can say about business excursions. We have agreements

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Do you invite the coaches from the team of Mr. Robbins to Kyiv?

– So, in June 2018, we brought Alan Kleinhans to Kyiv, one of the best coaches in the team of Tony Robbins. Actually, Mr. Robbins’s coaching costs a million dollars a year. The queue is noted down for several years in advance. But there are VIP customers who cannot afford coaching at similar prices. At the same time, they want to receive and use the techniques that Robbins says. Therefore, he has his own team of trainers trained in his methodology. Alan is one of such trainers. The way he conducts trainings resembles what Robbins does. The training lasted for two days.

What exactly was this training dedicated to?

– The training was called “Cardiac Intelligence”.

Why so?

Because, the entrepreneurship should share the social dimension, either. Not only making money, but also helping people. In fact, it is about how to combine mind and heart. Many entrepreneurs have a well-developed business instinct. For example, you can smelt a coin worth 5 cents into a nail and sell it for 10 cents. But where is sociality here? In order to improve the social dimension, we have decided to apply such term as “cardiac intelligence”. This term was overheard from the Chinese millionaire Jack Ma. He said that there is a love coefficient –

INTERNATIONAL VECTOR the ability to speak from the heart. In San Francisco, at one of the conferences on digital technologies, after a long discussion, all those present came to a single conclusion – that there is nothing more expensive than human communication. The main thing is to do business not only through profits, but also because of the desire to communicate with a person from heart to heart. When an entrepreneur behaves well towards his employees, they communicate with customers completely differently. Care for them more. Unfortunately, in Ukraine I know only one network of hotels, where they are really careful towards their client. This is the Intercontinental Hotel. I would really like us to have more of such hotels.

How many people and companies have participated in this two-day workshop?

– 100 people. This year was the same. This relatively small number is explained by the fact that we have just started to develop this topic, and if so, we need more time to promote this kind of direction.

How big is the staff of your company?

– We have 4 sales managers, 2 people are engaged in marketing, and my husband and me.

I am a soul, and he is the brain of our company – or right and left hemisphere. Just in case, if to choose I am the illogical one.

If you evaluate the activity of your company at the 10-point scale, which mark are you currently at? And why was such name chosen for the company?

– We have become known in the market of educational services – both in Ukraine and abroad. Why did we name our company GoodWill?

Because the reputation is a very important part of successful activity, we wanted to show by this title that we are responsible for the result of our work. As for the mark at the 10-point scale, I can say that the middle has already been passed, but we are walking along the path that is being born under the feet. There is a height we want to gain.

The conversation was held

by Anna Avramenko

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BUSINESS IN UKRAINE Maksym Piatakov, WOG CAFE in an exclusive interview for the FD talks about the formation, development and ambitious goals of the WOG CAFE network.

– Today, the WOG CAFE network in Ukraine has 363 facilities; it has the servicing at 16 Intercity trains and 7 cafes outside the filling stations. We have sold 26 million coffee cups. And today we can declare that we are the largest coffee seller in Ukraine.

How did the WOGCAFE network start to function?

– The impetus for the creation of the WOGCAFE network was caused by the active development of public catering at WOG filling stations, and this development has been transformed into an understanding that the food we sell at filling stations (coffee, pastries, hotdogs) should be positioned as part of the food in filling station complexes. Looking at foreign experience, our filling stations developed on the principle of related sales. This is an accompanying sale of those goods that are necessary for the road as well as food. Different networks position themselves in different ways.

Either they have a single brand, or they have separate brands for each of the directions. Our network until 2013–2014 worked in the same way. WOG was branded as a fuel station, and the San Bank brand was an object where you can swaddle where you can buy goods on the road. There were TastyDrive objects – the conventionally zoned cafe at large filling stations. And there was another brand – Restorio that combines restaurant with service and ceramic dishes. These were different brands in the same network. We did not have a unified assortment, and due to that we made a decision to unify the products that can be taken. For the purpose we took development in to go format. That is, in order to be able to buy everything that is convenient to buy on the road.

We set ourselves the goal of making our filling stations convenient. We wanted to have a stream because sales are made on the stream. The restaurant did not provide such stream. In addition, at the filling station we lacked space to develop catering establishments. It is difficult to create restaurants at the filling stations, because neither the equipment nor the necessary number of personnel will ever be placed. Therefore, we went by outsourcing in this direction. We ordered the main dishes with the food-producers.

We wanted to sell foods in a frozen or chilled state – that is, to serve the stream. Fast, convenient, profitable and safe. Cooking food at the fuel station is both difficult and risky. We are confident in our production. These include new Ukrainian producers, and experienced producers from the European Union.

So, the food in WOGCAFE is ordered?

– So, this food is not prepared by our divisions. We are working on an outsourcing system, as I said. We have fruitful and close relationships with manufacturers. These relationships are built either on joint projects or on our financing of certain industries. We have invested, for example, in pre-installation.

We shared equipment with other manufacturers. We either independently developed products using the site of a particular enterprise, or developed it together with the technologists of this enterprise. Our brand chef and our technology have joined this process.

How many WOGCAFEs are there in Ukraine today?

– 363 objects at the filling stations, 16 trains, there are 7 outside the filling station. This is what we present. These are objects of different sizes, but for us, all of them do constitute WOGCAFE, because they have our products – sandwiches, coffee, mafins and a certain group of other products under the brand WOGCAFE. Further, depending on the stream and depending on the size of the fuel station, we saturate our cafe assortment. In addition, it may be burgers, it may be fresh salads, it may also be meals. That has already been cooked. But this is all under our brand.

We have removed other related brands.

Why did we do that? We did this for a better understanding of what we have: WOG is a filling station, WOG is a market and WOG is cafes. Thus, we created a kind of network brand.

So, having 363 cafes, 16 trains and 7 cafes outside the filling stations, how many manufacturing facilities should be there in this case?

– We have more than 30 partners in the field of production in different directions – from ingredients to coffee. The fresh meal is supplied to us by two permanent producers from Zaporizhzhia. All of this is built on the basis of our logistics project that we are implementing in the direction of cooled and frozen products, together with the Ukrlogistics Company. This is #12, August 2018

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data, according to the results of the 5 months of 2018, sales of branded hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches grew by 15% almost (comparing with 2017), branded coffee and tea – also by 15%, while sales of desserts grew by more than three times. Sales of stores continue to show steady development, for example, car sales increased by 10%, and sales of soft drinks by 20%. We sell so much coffee that we decided to deal with the process of making this wonderful beverage. At least I got a diploma in this area. I have to understand – and I do it – the production, sorting, delivery and storage of coffee, I understand the varieties and methods of processing coffee beans, and I demand such an understanding of the whole team, because we plan to enter the international level. In addition to the many objects I have already mentioned, there is another project that we have been elaborating. This is a cafe in the Lviv airport and it will be already the 8th cafe outside the fuel station.

What exactly has prompted you to go beyond the limits of the fuel stations?

a Ukrainian–Lithuanian joint venture, a division of Vichunai, the supplier of crab sticks to the Ukrainian market.

You have very high coffee sales figures at WOGCAFE. What about the last year?

– We have sold 26 million coffee cups. Today, we are the largest seller of coffee in Ukraine, and that is despite the fact that we are a company that sells fuel either. According to the operational

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– We did it at the end of 2015, in November. We had been carefully prepared for this. From the very beginning of the active development of catering at the fuel stations, we had an idea to work beyond them. That is to say, we wanted to allow our customers to consume our food not only during travelling, but also in the urban environment. Thus, we wanted to increase the range of our customers – so that our products could be consumed, for example, by a student who does not have a car. We wanted to get people accustomed in this way to our assortment so that when this student can buy a car, he will buy food exclusively at our filling stations. He is already a consumer of our products – both of food and of fuel. Also, it should not be forgotten that fuel stations are the infrastructural objects at which food is only one of the concomitant factors. Therefore, the outlet of our cafe beyond the limits of fuel stations had a strategic significance. We wanted to see how people react to us. We wanted to improve our skills and improve our range. After all, going out in the urban environment, we are starting to compete with many fast food restaurants

BUSINESS IN UKRAINE and many networks, and competition is always tightening and making us stronger. Analyzing our activities outside the fuel station, we realized that we could be the network of cafes, making our own brand. We, after all, already have a network, one of the largest in Europe. It was at that time that Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Rail Road Company) had declared a competition for catering at the high-speed trains. And in February 2016 we won the competition. We only had 10 days before the project had to be started. Thus, we had only 10 days to adapt our range to meet the requirements of Ukrzaliznytsia and to create the necessary infrastructure for the operation of our cafes in the cars. Trains were handed over to us on the night of March 1. Overnight, the company that serves these trains had changed – so, we had just an opportunity to rebuild these trains to our standards.

How many people work at cafes located outside the fuel stations?

– More than 250 people work there. This is a separate business project with its own location, its own dispatch service and its own warehouses.

There is also one more internal project – I mean the dining room for staff working at the railway and not only at our cafes.

How did you get into the airports? Or correctly saying, how have you coped with this direction?

– One of the airports declared a tender, the other one did not. After Intercity we worked with the Ashan network, we opened three coffeebags, so people who make purchases could have some coffee and some meals. These were small retail outlets – from 12 to 20 square meters.

Already after that we went to the airport of Kyiv in Zhuliany that now is named in honour of Ihor Sikorsky. It is, in essence, a mix of business and the state ownership; therefore, we entered into a commercial environment after the negotiation process. We negotiated the lease rates, conditions, prospects, etc. We have commercial rates that are tied to the dollar rate and the passenger flow. In fact, the experience of other world airports was used, if to talk about the rental rates. We have possessed an area of up to 45 square meters, a relatively small number of tables and a counter at which people come up to make an order.

Why did not you place this cafe on the ground floor, where the passengers flow should be bigger?

– Places on the ground floor have already been occupied by other companies in the departure zone.

Does the cafe work successfully?

– Yes, quite successfully. We have very democratic prices and therefore the passengers like this facility. The prices, of course, are different from those ones that are at fuel stations, but not radically.

When you left moderate prices at the airport, were not you blamed by your competitors for a kind of dumping?

– No, because such an assortment, as we have the other cafes that work at the airport do not have. Different products cost differently.

And yet, when a powerful company like yours starts to implement actively and successfully its projects, how do the competitors react?

– Sure, the attacks of competitors occur. We work very carefully with the complaints of our clients, and if people are not satisfied with the level of service or quality of food, we conduct official investigations, make compliments in the form of dishes, always thanking for the feedback.

What are your next ambitious goals?

– Among these goals, there is, in particular, the airport “Lviv”. Setting the network up, we have identified priorities for ourselves. It means that we have to be a part of the infrastructure.

We want to get into every airport in Ukraine. The aviation has been developing, new international airlines join our market, and people are flying more after having of the visa-free regime with EU. We are currently launching a pilot project with a Ukrainian air company that is in charge of the charter flights. As for international cooperation, we plan to open stationary cafes at airports abroad, but this is already a challenge for the nearest future.

The conversation was held by Petro Miskovych

BUSINESS IN UKRAINE

THE EMERGENCE OF CRYPTO CURRENCY AND THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC MONEY HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE MAIN INNOVATIONS OF OUR TIME. Daryna Kazariants, professional financier, project manager of MOSBY Asset Progressive Fund Limited in Central and Eastern Europe tells about the main features of the development of crypto currency market in Ukraine.

Crypto currency is rather new and unusual phenomenon for Ukraine and the Ukrainian business community.

Please, tell the readers of our magazine, what is the innovation value of crying out?

– First of all, the innovative value of crypto currency is that it allows you to provide financial services of the next generation. What does it mean, in fact? We mean three basic things – anonymity, efficiency and reliability.

Anonymity allows a person who wants to operate at the market of crypto currency to be engaged in financial transactions without fear of close attention of supervisors and fraudsters.

Efficiency allows avoiding those occasional bureaucratic procedures that are unfortunately common for the global banking system. In addition, many banks do not work at the weekends not only in Ukraine, but also around the world. Due to the market of crypto currency, you can carry out financial transactions at any time and on any day, transferring funds to any part of the world instantly. I want to mention a few aspects – one of them is the limit on the amount when you transfer funds from Ukraine, then our banking system sets a limit on the amount of transfer, that is, you can send up to

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only $ 500. When your funds are in bitcoins, this restriction does not exist. The second aspect is the percentage of the transaction. Our banking system sets payment for a transaction up to 20% depending on the amount, making a transaction in bitcoins; the maximum payment per transaction is up to 3%.

Reliability lies in the fact that the crypto money and, first of all, bitcoin does not undergo any influence of inflationary processes, that is, the currency in bitcoins can not be depreciated.

What has prompted you to deal with the innovative business at the market of crypto currency?

– I graduated from the Kyiv National Economic University majoring in banking. I have got experience at the various financial institutions.

MOSBY Company and its three founders from different countries, whose names I do not have the right to disclose, drew attention to my activities and my achievements. I successfully completed a number of investment projects on behalf of the company – thus, I received a proposal to join the development of the crypto currency market in our country.

I hope Ukraine will join sooner or later those countries where bitcoin has been recognized as an official means of payment.

“All countries that had recognized bitcoin as the official means of payment, have got the stabilization of the economic system”

BUSINESS IN UKRAINE Can our country be regarded as a perspective one for the global market of the crypto currency?

– Company MOSBY has started its activity in Ukraine not in vain. I can say, without disclosing corporate information, that there is a certain number of people that took part in the mining of bitcoins through the mediation of our company. These people are representatives of business and political elites, and their activity makes us believe that the development of financial services of a new generation in Ukraine will have a great and interesting future. I would like to point out that MOSBY owns certain assets in land and subsoil property in South Africa, in the Kingdom of Lesotho. This is the most optimal place, according to all technical characteristics, for the mining of bitcoins and can act as the guarantor of our activities.

Why have you chosen such a distant country as Lesotho for development? Are there some preferences for doing business in this country?

– Well, at first, in Lesotho the land is in our property. For over 25 years we have been in this area being engaged in the mining of gold and diamonds, and also entered the large Chinese conglomerate that is one of the largest owners of this business in Africa. Therefore, the establishment of a landmine farm takes place on our own land.

Due to this, those investors who work with us in this area have a high profit of 50% of the total profit.

The second point is that in this South African country, the conditions for conducting such a business are the most favourable ones. In addition, we signed an agreement with an international Chinese insurance company that insures all the components of the business process: commercial risks, acquired property and profits – so, the investor is protected as much as possible since the very beginning of the investment.

And the third point is the following – there is the longest light day in this country, so we have installed solar panels that give us the required amount of electricity for landing servers. I want to emphasize that in this way MOSBY provided investors with free electricity. Thus, the cost part is minimized and this fact additionally provides such a high percentage of profit. And in general, this country is a historical centre for the production of diamonds, because the purest and most qualitative diamond in the history of mankind was found precisely in South Africa.

How many countries have already recognized crypto currency at the official level?

– So far, there are not so many such countries. At least, I can note that, first of all, bitcoin has already been legalized in Japan. In the Philippines, it is recognized as a payment instrument. Malaysia, economy of which is on the rise, and South Korea that is among the most successful economies in the world, have been preparing to legalize bitcoins. In addition, in some countries, for example, in France and India, the legal framework for the use of crypto currency is being prepared. In countries such as the United States, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Finland and the United Kingdom, crypto currency transactions are the subject of the same tax treatment as conventional financial transactions that can also be considered as an official recognition of this currency. And the fact that those countries

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the economic development of which has reached a high level, acknowledge bitcoins and crypto currency, indicates the attractive perceptivity of these financial services.

May the crypto currency be recognized in Ukraine?

Which macroeconomic consequences can it lead to?

– Of course, in our country the recognition of the bitcoin as the official means of payment, in particular, and the development of the crypto currency market, in general, cannot develop, but without hindrance. I have already told you that the crypto currency market is a combination of financial services of a new generation and a new quality. This market is, in fact, independent from supervision and from the interference of state institutions that is unlikely to cause the delight of the domestic bureaucracy.

However, we hope that further integration of our country into European Community will have an economic dimension that will enable the gradual implementation of the crypto currency in Ukraine. With regard to the consequences that can be caused by the introduction of crypto currency, I must emphasize that all countries that recognized bitcoin as the official means of payment and allowed the existence of the crypto currency market had got the stabilization of the economic system. Why? First of all, this is due to the fact that the crypto currency turnover makes the economic system of any country more flexible and, at the same time, simpler. I hope that this will happen to the Ukrainian economy.

The conversation was held

by Anna Avramenko

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UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS

“A systematic approach is always needed – especially when it is about managing of the state”

Andrii Nikolaienko, Ukrainian politician, diplomat, the head of the “Osnova” (The Basis) political party, tells the FD about his vision of the future of our country, its potential partners and allies at the international arena, and what kind of danger is hidden in the certain European integration processes for the national economy.

Mister Nikolaienko, you have a very interesting political biography.

You have a professional diplomatic education. To which extent did your education and your diplomatic and management experience affect your decision to create a political party and to take part in a political struggle?

– My managerial and diplomatic experience allows me to evaluate political activity in a critical way in order to understand clearly all its flaws. I saw the system of public administration from inside and I can argue that the institutional imbalance that exists in this system is very complicated for any attempts to reform the state machine. On the other hand, I see that such a situation can lead to deepening of the economic crisis and finally to the loss of statehood. That is why, we, the “Osnova” political party, decided that we should not simply reform the system of public administration, but to change the very basis of the state.

You are the leader of the “Osnova” political party. What can be offered by this political party to the Ukrainian voters? What is the key difference between your party and the rest of the political forces in our country?

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“Ukraine must have an example of success shown” – In Ukraine, about three hundred and sixty parties have been registered. However, most of them are either social or business projects that are aimed at solving very situational, transient problems. These formations do not have political ideology; therefore, they are hard to be called the real political parties. Which of the three basic components should a tangible political party consist of? First, party must have a strategy for change in the state, must have a clear vision of the country’s future. Second, the party should be a team of like-minded people, a team of professional and decisive people. Thirdly, the party must have its own powerful financial resources in order not to serve the interests of “sponsors”. The “Osnova” party has all three components. In particular, we have the Doctrine of balanced development named as “Ukraine 2030”. The representatives of Ukrainian business and the academic community – the five best universities in the country, several institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine – took part in its development. We have a team of people who clearly understand the orientations and goals of the party. They are the leaders in their field – in business, teaching, medicine, etc.

UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS We clearly understand what we will do when we come to power. Not being a parliamentary party, we have been already preparing people that can be called what is called “the ministers on a turn-key basis”. We have been building a party based on a system of values. This is our main difference from the rest.

What is your party’s strategy?

What is the system of its values?

– When the founders of the party made a decision of its creation, we gathered to discuss the main directions of Ukraine’s development until 2030. A systematic approach is always needed – and especially when it is about the governing of the state. The doctrine of balanced development, “Ukraine 2030”, sets specific markers that will define the right way, in our opinion, for the development of the country.

Basing on this strategy, we have to get the gross domestic product of 710–750 billion US dollars by 2030.

Our party values are also reflected in the Country Development Program, which gradually describes how to build a strong state.

Whiсh strategies are needed to address the problem of occupied territories?

– History does not know the conditional way “If ...” I am definitely sure that we lost some of our territories not because Russia was strong, but because of the weakness of state institutions in Ukraine. There was a real opportunity to prevent the occupation of Donbas as well as to behave differently in Crimea. But – alas – happened what had happened.

In Donbas, we have in fact a “frozen conflict”. The situation with the Crimea is even more complicated.

And the party “Osnova” today is the only political force that presented a realistic plan for a phased settlement of the conflict in Donbas. In February 2017, one of the party leaders Serhii Taruta presented it at the Security Conference in Munich. This plan #12, August 2018

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is entitled “Three Fundamentals: Legitimacy.

Security. Trust”. After two years since this conference, not only the Ukrainian authorities, but also our international partners actually began to realize the position of our plan – for example, the idea of introducing UN peacekeepers to the Donbas that was firstly expressed by Mister Taruta. We have an understanding of the real problems of Donbas, and we do not look at Donbas “from Kyiv”. By creating a peace plan, our party has accumulated the best international experience in resolving conflicts that are similar to this one that takes place in Donbas. We have offered a well-balanced, comprehensive solution – yes, we would like to have peacekeepers in Donbas, but in our plan not just “Legitimacy” is mentioned earlier in the “Security”. Why so? Because the legitimacy of power in the uncontrolled territory of Kyiv is the cornerstone of the conflict settlement.

As a model, we have taken the example of the settlement of the conflict and the subsequent return to Croatia of a separatist East Slavonia region. Legitimacy in this region was achieved through the introduction of an international interim administration, and then peacekeeping forces were introduced. The international interim administration and peacekeepers, together, have prepared a ground for the reintegration

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of this region into the Croatian state. Such a bloodless variant of the solution of the “Donbas question” is, in our opinion, the most optimal one. As for the Crimea, then, obviously, our Western partners will apply the Baltic variant.

They will not recognize the annexation of the Crimea in the same way as they did not recognize the annexation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union in the early 1940s. But I would not want to wait for 50 years for the return of the Crimea. In order to accelerate this process, Ukraine should show an example of success. If Ukraine does not succeed, Crimea will not return to us even in the event of Russia’s collapse. It will rather join Turkey. And this is not the best solution of the problem for the Ukrainians. We must make Ukraine better and more successful.

Is it possible to return to the economic situation of 2013 and, in general, do we need such a return?

– In fact, the country needs to surpass this level without repeating the structure of the economy in 2013. Today, GDP growth comes at a dynamics of 2–3% per year; Ukraine needs growth – from 10%. Everything that is below means the delayed bankruptcy. In addition, the problem is the outflow of the talented, young and able-bodied people abroad. We must create

UKRAINIAN POLICY MAKERS such social and economic conditions under which young people will remain in Ukraine, and small and medium businesses will be developed.

Which countries, in your opinion, are the main allies and partners of Ukraine at the global arena?

– Many countries perceive Ukraine as a potentially attractive economic partner. Finding partners exclusively among those countries that have not only economic but also political interests in Ukraine is a false tendency. Cooperation with such states will sooner or later lead to sad consequences. Countries in South-east of Asia, China, Southern Korea, India and the Middle East countries, for example, have no political interest in our lands. They are interested in powerful and long-term investment projects. If we are talking about a valuable, civilized choice of Ukraine – it is undoubtedly Europe. As far as the search for economic partners is concerned, the world is too big to raise the issue of Russia: the EU or the Russian Federation.

What are the main demerits and merits of the European integration for Ukraine at the actual period of time?

– European integration cannot be carried out when the national interests of Ukraine are totally neglected. We must become a partner, but not an EU raw material. Unfortunately, the difference in the development of the economic systems of Ukraine and the EU, the difference in the development of the financial and banking sectors, make the normal cooperation between us at the actual period of time the impossible one.

A well-known modern economist Eric Reinert noted that when a less developed economy joins a more developed one, it suffers losses and turns into its application. I do not think that economic cooperation between Ukraine and the EU under such conditions would be an exception and we would be able to have a quality income from this cooperation. But, I must emphasize that in revising

of our economic cooperation with the EU, we must keep political cooperation with Brussels up and first of all, in such areas as the standards of democracy, the protection of human rights and the fight against corruption.

What is your life motto?

– Keep running. In Ukrainian language it can be translated as “Do not stop.” Stopping traffic is nothing else but a step back. Recently I am fond of marathon running, and from my own experience, I know that in order to overcome the distance, you need to keep moving – without slowing down, without stopping – both in sport and in life. It is not worthwhile to stop the movement either of a person or of a whole nation.

Mr. Nikolaienko, we record this interview on the eve of the Independence Day of Ukraine. Would you like to congratulate Ukraine and the Ukrainians on this holiday?

– I congratulate your readers and all Ukrainians on the Independence Day! I want all of you to be truly independent: politically, economically, and mentally. And yet, I wish you to evaluate politicians by what they do, not by their words. Today Ukraine is in a need of compromise to get peace and suссess. Only people will find a compromise.

The conversation was held by Oleh Yanchenko

#12, August 2018

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WHO ARE YOU MR.ZAHOOR?

A native of Pakistan, a British-Ukrainian businessman, a billionaire and a philanthropist Mohammad Zahoor in an exclusive interview with the FD is talking about how his business began, about a charitable project initiated by his wife, a well-known pop singer Kamalia, and why he is not interested in Ukrainian politics...

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WHO ARE YOU MR.ZAHOOR? You started your business in Ukraine in the 1990s. It was a difficult time for Ukraine and for business. What prompted you to start a business in a difficult time and in a difficult country?

– We did not start business here, but in Russia. We came here afterwards. At that time, our company was a bridge between Ukrainian and Russian organizations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it turned out that many business entities owed each other. For example, the plant owed the port, railways and so on. We bought ore, coal, we paid for rail transportation and we financed the production and delivery of the produced goods to ports. So our activities began throughout the former Soviet Union, where there were metallurgical plants.

Meanwhile, the Donetsk Metallurgical Plant owed us over 20 million dollars. It was impossible to get this debt, and since the plant was put out to privatization, we decided to privatize it and withdraw our money. It turned out not quite as planned. The plant was almost dead and we had to invest a lot in it. Thank God, at the time the metallurgy was not paid much attention for, because the contributions to metallurgy are long money, which, as a rule, is paid back only after 10 years. Then it was not interesting. Alcohol, night clubs, casinos and gambling houses – it was an object of interest. Therefore, we managed to survive the difficult period without much stress.

We started having difficulties only when steel, that is to say, became fashionable – that is, when it became clear to many that metallurgy could make one rich. But we have coped with these complications.

What is the rate at which the Ukrainian economy is pulsing now?

– The Ukrainian economy now resembles a person who has had artificial ventilation of the lungs. Ukraine was a very economically strong country. Initial capital of Ukraine was better than in many post-Soviet countries. Better, than in Russia. Unfortunately, in Ukraine there was no leader who would have perceived it as their country. Ukraine was perceived as a foreign home where jewels lie, and these jewels could be stolen. As soon as we are told that we are having upturn, we are talking about the fact that our economy is at the bottom. Therefore, there is only one way – the way up. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell by 15% in 2014. Its growth is at a rate of 2–3% per year. In order to reach pre-war and pre-revolutionary levels, we need at least 5 years more.

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You are one of the few businessmen who are engaged in patronship and philanthropy. One of your projects is YUNA Music Award. Do you consider this project as purely philanthropic or does it still have business interests?

– There was no patronship there. From the beginning it was a commercial project. We started it, guided by the best thoughts. There are a lot of good artists in Ukraine, including my wife (a famous singer Kamalia – Ed.). But, unfortunately, in Ukraine there is no normal premium. We also took into account the fact that Russian awards (more than 50%) are received by Ukrainian stars. Why cannot they get their national prizes at home? On this basis, we decided that Ukraine is worthy of such a prize and such a competition. We would like this premium to be honest and clean, not politically motivated.

Anyhow, during the first three years nobody believed in the honesty of this premium. All the artists offered us a great amount of money for it.

In the fourth year, they finally realized that the premium was honest indeed. We have 150 jury members. It is virtually impossible to bribe each of them. All jury members are from the world called show business. It is the right of each of them to have their own sympathies. Though it is true, it happened so that afterwards famous artists stopped coming to us. They began to fear that they would come to our competition, and the victory would be gained by someone from their competitors. Therefore, the premium and the competition began to be considered as a starting point for creative youth. It was our competition that gave a kind of “ticket to life” for great performers like Hard Kiss, Monica, Ivan Dorn, Onuka. This premium is already seven years old, but we still subsidize it. Unfortunately, our premium did not have any single channel partner that would show our competition. For a while, the contest was broadcasted on the Inter channel, but anyway this channel is more aimed at older people. Then we were broadcasted by the youth channels – Novyi and M1. But M1 recently, for some reason, considers us to be their competitors. This year our contest was to be broadcasted on M1, but the broadcast did not take place due to instructions from the media holding company that were not completely clear to us. We showed our contest on the Live Channel. This year we have a powerful partner – the channel 1+1. We have an agreement with this channel and many radio stations, as well as publishers who will fully support us. Thus, we already have quite powerful media support, and

this is quite enough for us to have serious sponsors. Also, we have an agreement with the Hilton hotel, which has already become one of the sponsors of our competition, and all the competitive events will be held there. I do not mean the concert itself, but such important components of the competition as the pre party and after party. Also there will be an international jury on the second stage of the competition this year.

You also supported the Ukrainian Hockey Federation. Many people of your level are more inclined to support football. They buy football clubs, create football teams. You are attracted to hockey. Why? – Well, first of all, I had a football team. It was part of our factory. This team is the Donetsk Metalurh, which we finally handed over to Mr. Taruta.

Simply put, we presented him this team because it was loss-making. If you do not do money laundering, you have nothing to do with football. And we, unfortunately or fortunately, do not do this. Therefore, it was easier for us to present the football team than to keep it. Although we have kept a mini-football team and won the championships and cups until recently. Well, and secondly, even in those days when I was a student, hockey held the superiority of popularity, not football.

Unfortunately, Ukraine has never been a hockey country. Even in the Kyiv hockey team “Sokil” there were the guys that used to play, let’s say, from Novokuznetsk and so on. We decided to change the situation for the better and have done a lot for that. Kamalia even presented a cup to the hockey association, made from a magnificent stone that is extracted in Siberia. After us hockey started to be of interest. Mr. Kolesnikov and Mr. Taruta created their hockey teams. For a long time they kept the women’s handball club “Academy” from town of Irpin.

When it comes to sports, I cannot but ask you about such an unusual game for Ukraine – cricket. You hold an annual cricket tournament for foreigners living in our country. Do the Ukrainians participate in this tournament?

– Very few. A young priest from Australia lives in Kaharlyk. He has good relations with local authorities. He managed to organize a more or less good stadium, where he teaches the Ukrainians the game of cricket. When we are holding a tournament, these Ukrainians come to Kyiv and take part in it. But mainly foreign entrepreneurs and students studying in Ukraine are involved in the tournament. We tried to enter the world cricket association, but so far this is not possible due to the small number of players.

The women’s team was not able to be created at all, and the creation of a women’s team is one of the prerequisites for joining the world cricket association. Therefore, we just run an annual tournament, to which we are trying to bring

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known cricket players, either from Pakistan, from Sri Lanka, or from India. Cricket is the same game as football, and if a person is really committed to it, they will play in any country and in any pitch.

Among your business interests real estate and media are often mentioned.

In particular, you showed interest in the “Leipzig” hotel, for a fairly long period you were the owner of the Englishlanguage publication “Kyiv Post”. You got rid of these assets. Why? – The media does not make a profit at all. “Kyiv Post” was a true patronship. This edition was not a business for me. I took it because it was being closed. I bought this brand and we continued its activities in the spirit in which the edition had worked from the time of its foundation. Perhaps, with us, publications have even become sharper.

We were lucky because Viktor Yanukovych was the president at that time and many publications were suppressed. Our newspaper continued

WHO ARE YOU MR.ZAHOOR? to write everything it wanted. In addition, we have made it clear to Yanukovych that pressure on the newspaper or an attempt to close it will have negative resonance in the world. We were also lucky to have few English readers in Ukraine.

Our newspaper was designed for expats, for foreign language students, for foreign embassy staff, accredited in Ukraine, foreign ministries of foreign affairs, business abroad and diaspora.

This was our audience. 70% of our readers were abroad at all. On this basis, Yanukovych’s people realized that this newspaper has no impact on the masses, and left us in calm. Of course, there were attempts to pressure the newspaper. There were attempts to redeem it.

But we were able to stand it. We invested more than five million dollars in “Kyiv Post” and each year the amount of investments increased.

I invited many foreigners, people who could continue our line in the newspaper to redeem the newspaper. There were potential buyers, but I was not certain that they would maintain the publication at the proper level. The person that I finally sold “Kyiv Post” to keeps the word and keeps the high standard set by us. I was often asked why I presented conditions when selling the newspaper. I replied that this newspaper belonged to me for nine years and I do not want anything bad to happen to it. As for real estate, in Ukraine it has fallen in price by 4 or even by 5 times. Everything that cost 100 million costs 20.

Real estate rises in price not with the speed with which it has fallen.

In 5 years, real estate may come to the level of 2014 in prices. As for the “Leipzig” hotel, we did not sell it. The media are mistaken here.

We are looking for partners and buyers, but we would not want to sell it too cheap. Even today, from “Leipzig” you can make a three-star hotel and in such a position to wait for the next 5 years, wait for the stabilization of real estate prices and transform Leipzig into a five-star hotel. Our plans are to turn it into super elite apartments.

Unfortunately, none of these plans will provide us with profits. We have already invested 90 million in Leipzig, but the return of this money is not yet visible.

What kind of charity events are you planning this year?

– My wife, Kamalia, is more concerned with charity. I just support her. She is currently dealing with a children’s cardiac centre. We are helping and will continue to help the cardio centre in terms of equipment purchase. We control the delivery and installation of this

equipment. The 10 monitors of a total value of 15 million UAH, donated by us this year, can save up to 100 lives a year – on one machine. In 10 years it will be possible to save up to 1000 people on one machine. In total – 10 thousand people in 10 years. 10 thousand happy families – it is very important for us. Unfortunately, we are not always able to check if our charity help comes to its destination. We do not always know if this help is being used. In the case of a cardio centre, we know that our money will help to save lives, and children are the very category Kamalia wants to help. Here we see the result.

Have you ever wanted to enter Ukrainian politics, perhaps not personally, but through the creation of a political party?

– Criticism is always much easier than creating. It is not as difficult to see and state the shortcomings as to eliminate them. I have never wanted to be engaged in politics – neither in Ukraine, nor in my country, nor in England. I am a non-party person, regardless of my personal sympathies. My experience of participating in politics was limited to participation in the support of the first president of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, when he competed with Leonid Kuchma. We were invited to television and asked to speak out on Kravchuk’s support. But he lost the election, after which I realized that the politics was not for me. It was a good lesson.

However, in 2004, during another confrontation between Yushchenko and Yanukovych, we were the only ones providing the territory in Donetsk, where Yushchenko was able to speak.

How do you see the future of Ukraine?

– In the end, Ukraine will be a successful country, it has all the ingredients to become strong and prosperous, but because of human misery Ukraine is now a failed state. It does not fit into the head, as having all that is necessary for success, Ukraine cannot reach it. Therefore, we need only one person who will come to politics not to multiply his wealth, but to care for the country. Howard Schultz, a Starbucks shareholder, left his business and intends to run for the US presidential election in 2020 not to increase his own revenues. He goes to politics because he does not agree with the actions of the current President of the United States and wants to raise the prestige of his country. Once you have such a person, Ukraine will become a successful country.

The conversation was held by Ihor Skrypnyk #12, August 2018

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IN THE REALM OF THE AESTHETIC MEDICINE

Maia Makushenko – senior doctor, dermathologist and cosmetololgist and the owner of MayaMI Beauty Esthetic

ATTRACTIVE AND HIGHQUALITY LONGEVITY BECOMES A REALITY WITH MAYAMI BEAUTY ESTHETIC The world trend in attractive and high-quality longevity is gaining popularity in Ukraine. A woman always remains a woman both at the age of 25 and 70.

The MayaMI Beauty Esthetic clinic in Kyiv will help save a beautiful and wellgroomed face, elastic skin, a healthy body and shining hair. Here it is known how to work with you, so that reaching an elegant age you will look as Jane Fonda. Also, the clinicians know the secrets of how to help men as well.

The centre was founded by Maia Makushenko. Ms. Maia is a dermatologist, cosmetologist and trichologist. She has been engaged in cosmetology for more than 15 years.

– Our main direction is aesthetic medicine and everything connected with it. We approach the health of a woman in its entirety. These are both aesthetic cosmetology and aesthetic gynecology.

Aesthetic cosmetology also includes hardware and injection cosmetology. Well, and also everything related to facial and body care.

We also represent a new direction and that is gynecology.

Women are said to have two faces. This trend in Ukraine is quite young, but popular. It comes about laser, aesthetic and clinical gynecology. At various moments of their lives, women encounter hormonal imbalances. It can be in adolescence and in more mature age. Such imbalances also affect the condition of the skin. Therefore, the interaction of gynecologist and endocrinologist is very important. A separate issue is women of elegant age. They need special care and attention to the skin and body. That is why there are two main directions which we follow while working with our patients.

The clinic uses the care products from the world’s best manufacturers in the beauty industry.

– All people are different, everybody has their own peculiarities. Therefore, everyone has their own needs.

Accordingly, the means should be chosen individually.

We use the means of all the well-known world manufacturers.

I travel a lot. I have visited almost all cosmetic manufacturing industries in the beauty industry. It is important for me to see the quality of products, the raw materials from which they are produced. So I will be sure of the result and treatment of the patient. Given our main concept is to be focused on the final result. So the patient gets the desired.

When should a woman contact a cosmetologist and a specialist in aesthetic gynecology?

– The main thing is not to be late for a cosmetologist. Ideally it is starting from the age of 25. The earlier we begin to care for the skin, understand the changes and causes, the longer we can preserve the quality of the skin with prevention and a little correction. You will be able to stay young and attractive for a longer time. Nowadays there is a trend in young and attractive longevity in the world. Everyone wants to live long and at high-quality level. We help women to live better. Being 70, each of us imagines to be not a weak grandmother, but a strong attractive woman who travels and has an active lifestyle.

I think, the sooner we begin to think about it, the easier it will be implemented.

A significant part of clients are men in the clinic.

– About 40 percent of our clients are men. Recently there are more of them. They are interested in the condition of their skin and hair. When I was in Korea, I was surprised – it is very important for men to look after their hair. If a person has bad and unhealthy appearance, he can possibly be not able to sign a contract.

We also have an osteopathologist. There is a modern spa area. Hairstylists, fingernail artists, makeup artists work here as well.

The conversation was held by Alina Arkhypova

MAYAMI BEAUTY ESTHETIC Sichovykh Striltsiv Street 42, Kyiv, Ukraine

+38 (099) 481 47 92 +39 (097) 720 45 14 instagram.com/mayami.com.ua facebook.com/mayami.com.ua

LADY INTERNATIONAL СLUB

Famous Ukrainian-American artist Ola Rondiak tells the FD magazine her story of success – in creative work and in life.

LADY INTERNATIONAL СLUB You moved to Ukraine in 1995 with your family. What was your first impression?

– When I moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, with my husband in 1995, I was incredibly excited to connect with the country that I heard stories about my entire life. I was raised to understand that Ukraine was the country with its own distinct nationality. And even though I knew that the Soviet Union was russifying Ukraine, when I arrived in Kyiv and heard everyone speaking Russian, it was unsettling for me and I had a difficult time accepting it as my new home.

Over the last 23 years living mostly in Ukraine, I have connected closely with many Ukrainians. They have taught me that being Ukrainian is more than just speaking the language and staying true to traditions. It’s a deeper feeling of belonging to and caring for a nation that you call home. While working as an artist, as well as a psychotherapist, I realized that I have a responsibility to continue this battle for freedom of our minds, bodies, and souls.

What have prompted you to work with such a sensitive subject as ‘loss of identity’? As we understand, the exhibition of your paintings “Identity, interrupted” is devoted to this problem?

– Growing up in America, it was very natural for me to tell everyone that I was Ukrainian. My parents felt it was deeply important for us to learn the Ukrainian language, history and culture. The Ukrainian community was strong in all major cities.

My new series “Identity, Interrupted” stems from my personal story of growing up in the USA with a Ukrainian identity and how this identity was challenged when I actually began day to day life in a newly independent, 1990’s Ukraine.

You have a lot of paintings devoted to Ukrainian Maidan Events in 2004 and 2014. Did you participate in those events? What have impressed you most and inspired you?

– With a professional background in psychotherapy, I first took up painting during the 2004 Orange Revolution. Along with millions

of others, I was consumed with the emotions of Ukraine’s first post-Soviet revolution. Painting was an emotional release for me, a way for me to express my feelings, and I found it to be therapeutic. Little I did know that it would prove to be a life changing experience for me and lead me to a new career as an exhibiting artist. As a psychotherapist, my job was to help people get to the truth beneath the surface as well as to explore deeper understanding of themselves in order to reveal the hidden feelings within. “…Rondiak captures her own vision to broaden our grasp of human experience and resiliency to finding the freedom to live in a society that remembers it’s past…“ writes Kathrine Page, Gretchen Hupfel Curator of Contemporary Art at the Delaware Contemporary. #12, August 2018

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You popularize Ukraine in the world.

Do you consider your mission as a cultural diplomacy?

– My art is heavily influenced by my family’s history as well as my own experience in life. The Ukraine that I was identifying with throughout my childhood was the one that my mother left at 11. She arrived in Ellis Island with my grandfather at 16. And while my mother and grandfather ended up as refugees in Austria at a “displaced people’s” camp, my grandmother was sent to a female labour camp in Mordovia (Russia). While she was there, after losing her family and home, she secretly created beautiful embroideries using fishbones for needles, potato sacks for canvas, and threads from her clothing. She managed to smuggle them out after being released and passing them on to a clandestine priest who was travelling to America. He then smuggled them into the states, where the Chicago Tribune wrote an article about them in 1980, and then they eventually found their home with my family.

My grandmother, her strength and tenacity, has become a great source of inspiration.

Although Ukraine is now fighting in a war with Russia in the east and dealing with the leftover corruption, it is well on its way to realizing itself as a true democracy. I have witnessed this

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transition with my own eyes and I think it is my responsibility to share this story, as it represents so many similar stories in Ukraine and gives a voice to millions of Ukrainians.

How do Americans without Ukrainian roots react to your paintings? Are they interested in what is happening in Ukraine?

– Growing up in America, I had “two lives,” my Ukrainian world and my American world. I was used to sharing my story with Americans and people in general were interested and curious.

From my experience, people didn’t really know what was happening in that part of the world.

You have worked on a mural painting in Kyiv. What fascinates you in street art genre?

– My involvement in the Art United Us mural project happened to be after a meeting with a project coordinator Geo Leros at the opening of my spring 2016 exhibition at America House in Kyiv. As a newcomer to the street art genre, I did not have to think long before accepting an invitation to contribute a mural. I was attracted to the idea of making something large and to be part of this community. I was offered many locations before finally choosing the wall in Borysohlibska Street 10th in Kyiv historic Podil district. I see the

LADY INTERNATIONAL СLUB explosion of street art in Kyiv as a reflection of the new Ukraine. It is giving the city a far more contemporary feel and highlighting the social shift towards Europe that has been underway since the Revolution of Dignity in 2013–14.

In early 90s, Ukraine was influenced

by Russia to the point that it has lost its identity. Do you think that the situation has improved?

– I have been creating contemporary female portraits since 2013. As for me, this female image has become a metaphor for Ukraine, as they portray a courageous, free and determined spirit. I have learned that my art is an expression of something much greater than me. Although I always felt connected to my grandmother whom I never met, living in Kyiv and being inspired

by Ukraine, allowed me to tap into my spiritual connection with her, and she was able to pass her talent through me in order to continue this thread of unification. I realized not only how strong she was, but how much internal strength lies within the people in Ukraine. I think that the timing of this exhibit is perfect.

In addition to my paintings, I created a life size “Motanka”. The history of this ancient, hand woven, Ukrainian rag doll resonates with me deeply. I created the sculpture as a symbolic protectress of Ukraine from its aggressors, and a unifier to heal Ukrainians from generations of pain.

Over the centuries, many people have given their lives for Ukraine’s freedom, including all the thousands in the last few years beginning with the Revolution of Dignity. This is why I have chosen to create the Motanka sculpture out of plaster of paris cast, which is the material used to create casts to heal broken bones. I feel that Ukrainians have been repeatedly traumatized and perhaps are never given enough time to acknowledge the pain in order to begin healing.

You worked in a Fashion Industry earlier. What were your biggest challenges?

– I very much enjoyed the process of creating clothing designs and experimenting with fabrics and this experience has left an imprint on my art today. I continue to incorporate sewing patterns into my art, as they represent the repeated psychological patterns in humans, as well as the uniqueness in each individual. Probably the biggest challenge then, as it remains today, is finding the balance between times to create with the business side of the art.

Art is clearly inseparable from my life. I am thrilled to have found my purpose and meaning in this role. I don’t think that it is an accident or a coincidence that the older my children get, the clearer and stronger my role in art emerges. I also know that my art is much greater than I am.

It is a connecter and I now respect that I need to be patient. I learned that I must continue to have faith in the process of creating. I trust that as long as I invest the time, discipline and work ethic into my creativity, my art will continue to grow.

The conversation was held

by Anna Avramenko

#12, August 2018

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Since the 1st of August FASHION HOUSE AINA GASSE has worked in the new direction: City of Kyiv, Montazhnykiv street 72 The collections SS 2018 & FW 2018/2019 are presented in the showroom of FASHION HOUSE AINA GASSE The discount on all summer collection 2018 models is 30%.

AINA GASSE is the first Ukrainian brand presented at the Italian chamber of the fashion Casmera della moda. The fashion shows AINA GASSE are realized in the main capitals of the global fashion - in Milan and in Paris.

The visiting card of FASHION HOUSE AINA GASSE is the creating of the own unique style for its amazing clients in accordance with their individual peculiarities and advantages.

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STYLISH UKRAINE THE SUIT FOR THE PRESIDENT – THE SECRET HAS BEEN REVEALED

The suit, wearing which you will look for one million dollars worth, consists of trifles. This is not a stocked thing. A good suit is sewn specifically for you. It is not only high-quality fabric, a good lining, buttons, inside – canvas processing. It includes a completely manual work. Like the fingerprints, the figure of each person is unique.

The professional knows about it.

All our suits are presidential ones. In India it is accepted – every client is like God. Therefore, I treat all my clients as vip-clients. Everyone who has come to me is a president. I do not disclose the names.

I can tell about one of the presidents. He loves the tweed. I knew about it. I delivered to him the samples of the tweed party of six colours.

He ordered all the six ones. And still, when I look at his performances on television, I see that he is in tweed costumes. It really suits him. And he understands it. People that understand are nice to work with.

For diplomats and for politicians complying with the protocol is essential. This is respect for your country first of all. It is necessary to pay attention to the colours and to give preference to classical blue and grey but not a bright colour.

I never accept a compromise with quality. We have English and Italian fabrics; we have natural

In a gentleman’s suit, as in business and politics, every detail is important.

50% of success of the whole affair often depends on it. All the secrets of genuine gentleman’s clothing are known by Steve Kriplani, co-owner of the “The Imperial Tailoring Company”. The company is among the top 10 international living tailors. Mr. Steve can be seen in one and the same place – in St. Sofia Square in the centre of the Ukrainian capital at his small cozy workshop. 13 consecutive years running, a graduate of Tailor & Cutter’s London School, has been working here.

During this time, his suits have already transformed into a legend. They are ordered by the first persons of the state and by business people. Style, elegance, concordance of design, the highest quality of fabric, accessories and almost everything is a handmade production of the Italian and English tailors. Today the company opens a new direction – smart casual. Everything is made on a by-order basis here – starting from a bow tie and finishing with shoes. Collections are updated everywhere. Production capacity is located in the UK and Italy.

wool without synthetics. Suppliers deal with their business at the second or even third generation.

They keep their reputation. Therefore, you can rely on them. Everything depends on the quality of the fabric. The suit serves you three times longer.

Clients will come to us when after some time they change their figures. And the suit is like a new one. The fabric breathes. When you are looking for qualitative materials, you take care of it – you give it to dry-cleaning in a timely manner, you do prevention and it will serve more than 10 years. We give lifetime warranty to every customer.

I want my clients to get the maximum services. For example – you have money, you can go to the salon and buy Mercedes but Bentley can only be ordered. Just wait, and when you get a car, it will be a completely different feeling.

The same I can say about my suits. Our clients share this feeling.

In India people say: you have to work so your name would be remembered well and after you.

We have been working this way. #12, August 2018

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BEAUTY UKRAINE

Make-up&brow bar: all the services set during one attendance Summer is not just a season of the vacations, but is a period of the festivals and events as well. Every woman wants to be a queen and to look in a stylish and exquisite way. All the secrets of beauty are known by the beautyexperts at the BODY LPG salon. The experts deal with all the makeup details for any event – and no matter what kind of the event you are going to visit – a diplomatic reception, a wedding ceremony or a dancing party.

In the salon network one of the beauty departments is a Make-up & brow bar. It provides services for all types of makeup. The different levels of eyelash extension are provided here. Beautiful eyebrows by using unique natural technology are possible to get at the salon.

What does the successful make-up depend on? About that issue we are talking to Naltana Kruk. She is a beauty specialist, and a make-up artist. She is engaged in expanding of the eyelashes. She works, also, at television and she has been dealing with beauty industry for 13 years.

“At first, I was instructed by the representatives and trainers of world brands, and now I share this experience with our clients,” – Naltana says.

“What the attention should be paid first of all to? At first, to the actual trends. But in order to be beautiful and stylish, you need to work with a specialist. Refinement and unobtrusive make-up will be able to make you a queen of the dancing party.

I offer a full selection for each woman individualy.

The colours must be taken into account. We prefer the restrained ones without strong sequins.

Trial make-up for special occasions should always be done.

Not only decorative cosmetics, but also face and neck skin care is important. Caring at first. Not always the most expensive one means to be the best one. Serums, creams, correction enhancers should be chosen with an assistance of the expert.

Thus, the desired result will be achieved. Let us be honest, Chanel or Clarins are not for everyone.

We all have our own peculiarities.

Clients come with their makeup bags and we put them together.

There are also individual trainings and master classes – a visage for yourself. There we pick the necessary things for every client every day. There is a training course – during 16 hours we are teaching clients to look after the face in a right way and to choose decorative cosmetics.

Men are also our customers. These are successful public people. They want to look decent. Some of them come to us after receiving a recommendation. There are special men’s care lines. We also work with them. We find the right tools together. Men do not want to be more beautiful as women are. They want to be wellgroomed”.

The conversation was held by Alina Arkhypova

OUR STUDIOS DIRECTIONS: The trade and leisure centre “Dream Town” (Obolonsky Avenue, 1B) Trade Complex “Arcadia” (Borshchahivska Street, 154) Trade Complex “Arcadia” (Dniprovska Naberezhna Street, 33)

HOT LINE:

The trade and leisure centre “Gulliver” (Sportyvna Square, 1а)

0 800 501 011

The trade and leisure centre “Ametyst Mall” (Sadova Street 1G)

The “Ukraina” Department Store (Pobedy Square, 3) OUR SALONS DIRECTIONS: Drahomanova Street, 6/1 Kolomyskyi Side-Street, 17/31а Vyshhorodska Street, 45а Sophievska Street, 16/16 Drahomyrova Street, 15 Shelkovychna Street, 32/34 Shevchenko Boulevard, 2/54 Vozdvijenska Street, 28–30

OVERALL RESULTS In the beginning of July, the competition “Kyiv Premium 2018” was held in Kyiv.

This event had unified entrepreneurs, artists and public figures. The competition was aimed at the identifying the best and the most effective representatives in each of the areas and activities.

The competition was won by : In the nomination of “Business” – Daryna Kazariants, General Project manager of the Mosby Asset Progressive Fund Limited Company in the Central and Eastern Europe region.

In the nomination of “Fashion and Beauty” – Оlha Pazychko, fashion designer of ТМ SherlO and Nataliya Voroshylo the founder of the “Miss Beauty 4 Seasons” project.

In the nomination of “Music” – the Ukrainian singer “Angela”.

Editor-in-chief of the “Fashion of Diplomacy” magazine Anna Avramenko had been awarded as the Laureate in the nomination of “Business Reputation” as well.

This project takes place annually and is unique in its structure – because its winners are determined directly by the participants of the business event through the direct voting. The main objective of the project is to promote business and effective networking that are followed by the further invitations of the winners at the All-Ukrainian Forum named as the “Ukrainian Premium 2018” that will be held in Kyiv this autumn.

DIPLOMATIC CALENDAR

AUGUST/2018

THE INDEPENDENCE DAYS AND THE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: Day of Foundation of the Swiss Confederation

1

WE

2

TH

Day of Proclamation of Independence of Bolivia

6

MO

9

TH

Day of Independence of Republic of India

WE

FR

SU

MO

King Saint Stephen Day, Day of the Hungarian State Day of the National Revolution in Marocco Day of the renovation of independence in Estonia

24 FR

27 MO

Day of Constitution of Republic of Kazakhstan

Day of Independence of Republic of Indonesia

19 20

Day of Independence of Ukraine

Day of Independence of Republic of Singapore

15 17

Day of Independence of the Islamic republic of Afghanistan

Day of Republic of Macedonia

Day of Independence of Republic of Moldova

30 TH

31 FR

Day of independence of Republic of Kyrgyzstan Day of Independence of Malaysia

#12, August 2018

63

THE INTERNATIONAL LADIES CLUB SOLEMN SESSION

7th of September r e s t a u r a n t

&

l o u n g e

SENATOR RESTRAUNT (Rizhytska Street, 2)

The club unites the wives of ambassadors and socially active women of Ukraine in order to popularize Ukraine on the international arena.

The program of the event includes: •

Welcome Drink

•

Holly Buffet

•

History of the development and of he positioning of the Club for 8 years

•

The presentation of the modern Ukrainian painters, sculptors, show people and so on.

•

The performance of leading Ukrainian artists.

•

The presentation of the sessions program of the “Lady International Club” for the year 2018

•

The lunch

The partner of the club:

Office: +38 044 228 06 48 President of the club Iryna Reznyk: +380 67 549 20 90 Press-secretary Olha Burbelo: +380 67 323 73 23