U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt and Kharkiv Oblast Governor Ihor Rainin signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 8th to broaden and deepen trade and investment ties and expand cooperation on science, technology, and the social and humanitarian sectors.
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Expanding Trade with Ukraine
"Kharkiv is renowned for its science, technology, academic, and research communities. I'm delighted to join Governor Rainin in signing this MOU, which will further strengthen our already robust cooperation with Kharkiv Oblast, help create more and better jobs, and promote broad-based economic opportunity," U.S. Ambassador Pyatt said at a signing ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
The MOU will promote collaboration between Kharkiv Oblast and U.S. business associations, helping the region attract investment as its production facilities and industrial operations work to become more modern, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly. The MOU also proposes expanding practical cooperation in science, education, and technology, including the creation of new linkages between Kharkiv Oblast and U.S. universities, research centers, and technology boards.
Since 2014, the United States has invested more than $9 million in a broad range of programs in Kharkiv Oblast to support decentralization, promote human rights, judicial reform, and civil society development, advance police reform, improve access to credit for farmers, and treat and prevent the spread of tuberculosis.
In that same period, the United States has also provided more than $1 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance to nearly 8,000 civilians who were displaced to Kharkiv Oblast from the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
The $73 million investment made by the United States in the newly completed, state-of-the-art Neutron Source Facility at the Kharkiv Institute for Physics and Technology, will provide Ukraine with new research capabilities and the ability to produce industrial and medical isotopes for the benefit of the Ukrainian people, further demonstrates U.S. commitment to building dynamic, collaborative partnerships in the region.
The MOU is part of a continuing effort by the United States and Ukraine to expand cooperation to enhance job creation and economic growth, support economic reforms and liberalization, develop a business climate supportive of trade and investment and improve market access for goods and services. The U.S. and Ukraine recognize that trade is essential for global economic growth, development, freedom and prosperity.