Ukraine

In the context of relations between the Province of Hainaut and the Oblast of Poltava in Ukraine, a Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2005. Renewable every 4 years, it was extended in 2009 and 2013.

On September 16, 2014, Ukraine and the European Parliament signed an association agreement which strengthens political and economic ties between Ukraine and the EU and which lifts a large majority of customs barriers. This Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement entered into force on January 1, 2016. The European Commission, the EIB and the EBRD are supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery and development through grants, loans and various projects. Despite recent political upheavals, Ukraine offers many opportunities for our businesses. Indeed, in order to penetrate our markets, Ukrainian companies must adapt to European standards. Consequently, the modernization of their production tools and the search for new technologies become priorities.

In addition, following the 2 agricultural cooperation missions carried out by the C.A.R.A.H. and the Agronomy Category of the HEPH Condorcet in 2014 and 2015, many lines of cooperation have been identified between the 2 provincial institutions and the Agrarian Academy of Poltava. These lines were endorsed in an official collaboration note by the Ministry of Agriculture of Ukraine, supported by the Belgian Ambassador in Kiev and the AWEX Office in Kiev (note approved by the Provincial College on 10 December 2015).

An agricultural cooperation component has been « grafted » onto this multi-sectoral economic mission for the cities of Poltava and Kiev in order to allow the continuity and the concretization of the collaboration between the C.A.R.A.H./C.R.E.P.A. and the Agrarian Academy of Poltava (AAP) initiated in 2005 and strengthened by the HEPH Condorcet over the past 2 years