Second Kyiv International Economic Forum: a course towards a common reform strategy

In October, the Forum will bring together leading economists, reformers, businessmen and government officials who will determine the most effective tools of the economic development of Ukraine.

The Second Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) will take place in the capital of Ukraine on October 8, 2015. The event aims to establish a common understanding of the reforms that will begin to change the structure of the economy.

At the first KIEF on October 2, 201, the contours of structural reforms that will enable our country to make a real economic breakthrough were outlined. The second Forum is about to bring this vision to the next level with the help of successful reformers from abroad, business leaders and leading economic experts. This is extremely important under the domination of pseudo liberal economic theories in Ukraine.

Erik Reinert, an influential Norwegian economist, author of the bestseller How Rich Countries Got Rich ... and Why Poor Countries Stay Poor warns about the danger of such theories. In particular, Mr. Reinert notes that "Since the fall of the Berlin Wall global economic order is subordinate to a theory, which suggests that free international trade will reduce the differences in income residents of poor and rich countries. And if humanity does not interfere in the action of natural market forces, economic harmony and progress will rule the world... In many countries this approach led to disaster."

"We must unite all reformers and ensure that everyone understands the essence of reforms in the same way. Therefore, we have to continue the formation of a common vision for the modernization of Ukraine's economy that has been started at KIEF-2014, and to find the maximum consensus on this vision, in both expert community and in politics. Uncertainty of what exactly is the essence of reforms and what are their goals leads to the point that, reforms are done only for the sake of reforms. Or young and ambitious managers carry out changes that contradict one another, but in general, progress at the country level is not happening," says Volodymyr Panchenko, program director of the Kyiv International Economic Forum.

Another aim of the Forum is to bring strategies and plans to the international business and political circles. Ukrainian government, society and business should give the West a clear idea of what should be financed in Ukraine for real growth. "Using money from the international donors and lenders should have a rod, not fish effect. The EU could use the current potential of our country, and Ukraine itself – a chance to become a production facility for Europe," said Yuriy Pyvovarov, CEO of Kyiv International Economic Forum.

According to the organizers of the Forum, the Ukrainian Association of Innovative Development and KOLO discussion club, Ukraine is capable to become one of the world's leaders. Therefore, the focus of the event is defined by the slogan Ukraine: from the Third World to the First.

Several dozen of the reputable foreign and Ukrainian speakers will attend the Forum: famous economists and reformers, representatives of large international companies, public figures, members of the Cabinet of Ministers and Members of the Parliament of Ukraine and others. In particular, participation in the Forum has been confirmed by:

· Erik Reinert, an influential Norwegian economist, author of the bestseller How Rich Countries Got Rich ... and Why Poor Countries Stay Poor

· Garry Jacobs, CEO, World Academy of Art & Science

· James K. Galbraith, Professor of the Lyndon Johnson School of Public Relations them at the University of Texas in Austin

· Markus J. Beyrer, General Director of Business Europe

· Jerzy Kwiecinski, Vice President of the European Center for Enterprise

· Daniels Pavluts, Minister of Economics of Latvia (2011-2014)

· Vazil Hudak, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Finance

· Arturo Bris, Professor of Finance at IMD, Director of IMD World Competitiveness Center

· Keith C. Smith, Fellow in Residence at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)

· Ron Young, founder of the Knowledge Associates Cambridge Ltd

· Serhiy Kvit, Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine

· Victor Galasyuk, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship

· Singh Manmeet, investor and mentor at Chinaccelerator

· Serhiy Budkin, Investment Banker, Founding and Managing Partner of FinPoint Investment Advisors (Ukraine)

· Jaanika Merilo, Managing Director of the Association of Investors UVCA

· Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine

· Valery Fischuk, Regional Government Relations Manager at Cisco Ukraine

Forum will consist of twelve panel discussions:

Economic doctrine and industrial policy

How to make hi-tech a growth driver for the economy?

Agriculture: a turning point in the history

Energy Efficiency and renewable energy: investment in the independence

International financial aid to Ukraine: will it restart the economy?

Education – Science – Business. How to build a relationship?

· "Points of Growth" establishment and export increase in the global competition

Effective governance and digital technology

Challenges and prospects of world trade. Ukraine-EU Association Agreement

Business – Government – Society. Magical triangle for successful development

Sources for financing: how to revive the banking system

Battle of economic policies or a common strategy?

The first KIEF was held on October 2, 2014 with the participation of more than 50 experts, 120 representatives of international and national media and 550 guests. The overall vision for the modernization of Ukraine's economy was presented there, that was positively perceived by the business representatives. Expert community produced the recommendations on reforming the economy of Ukraine, based on the ideas expressed at the Forum.

Further public discussion of these ideas and recommendations took place during the series of thematic round tables under the auspices of KIEF:

"Financing the development projects. Prospects and problems of the creation and functioning of the Development Bank in Ukraine" http://forumkyiv.org/uk/press-center/press-releases/chi-potriben-ukrayini-bank-rozvitku/ (November 12, 2014);

"How to make hi-tech a driver for the Ukrainian economy" http://forumkyiv.org/uk/press-center/press-releases/vitchiznyana-haj-tek-galuz-sformuye/ (December 8, 2014);

"100 days after KIEF" forumkyiv.org/uk/press-center/press-releases/toruye-shlyah-reformam-v-uk/ (January 29, 2015);

"Increasing gas tariffs: harsh inevitability or manipulation?" http://forumkyiv.org/uk/press-center/press-releases/tarifi-v-obmin-na-prozorist/ (February 24, 2015);

"Industrial Policy: archaism or the last chance to save the economy?" http://forumkyiv.org/uk/press-center/press-releases/chi-potribna-ukrayini-promislova-politika/ (March 12, 2015).

Thus, the organizers of KIEF reached one of their goals – set up a communication platform of expertise dedicated to structural economic reforms. It helps to convey the ideas of the Forum to the political leaders of the country, business community and civil society.

Registration for the second Kyiv International Economic Forum is now open. Follow the news on the Forum's website http://www.forumkyiv.org/ and on the official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kyiveconomicforum .

Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) is a permanently operating venue for the formation of Ukrainian economic development strategy. It is aimed to organize a dialogue between experts, businesses and government, borrowing the best international practices, creating a road map for the development and promotion of the conversion of ideas into the real action.

The first KIEF was held on October 2, 2014 with the participation of more than 50 experts, 120 representatives of international and national media and 550 guests.

forumkyiv.org/en

The KOLO Discussion Club is a community of the representatives of middle businesses, public administrators, scientists, experts, artists and journalists who realize initiatives, aimed for the social and economic development of Ukraine.

koloclub.org

The Ukrainian Association of Innovative Development brings together leading international and national companies in the field of high technology, science and education, information technology, engineering, microelectronics, energy efficiency. The mission of the association is to create conditions for the high-tech business in Ukraine.

uaid.com.ua

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