The volume of direct foreign investment in the Ukrainian economy totaled USD 36.45 billion in the first half of 2008, including USD 6.9 billion growth in the first six months of 2008. Ukrainian Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn was speaking at a meeting with representatives from the U.S. Business Executives for National Security, the Ministry's press service reported.
He said that the United States remains one of Ukraine's investment partners. U.S. investment in the Ukrainian economy grew by USD 30.6 million over the period, to USD 1.4 billion (6.7% of the total volume of direct foreign investment). A total of 1,408 companies with U.S. assets currently operate in Ukraine.
The economic situation in Ukraine and the United States, as well as ways out of the global financial crisis were discussed during the meeting. Danylyshyn said that the stock market is the most painful channel of the crisis hitting Ukraine, as it only puts certain pressure on the national currency market because of an outflow of speculative assets. Other channels of influence are more susceptible to the Ukrainian economy. They include, for instance, the banking system, which currently has a significant share of foreign assets at financial institutions.
Danylyshyn also said that the Ukrainian government wants to maintain transparent cooperation with international investors and describes as a priority the "removal of all obstacles on the path of large business entering Ukraine."
