Kyiv Leads as the Top Destination for Foreign Business Ventures in Ukraine

by Roman Cheplyk
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
2 MIN
Kyiv Leads as the Top Destination for Foreign Business Ventures in Ukraine

Foreign entrepreneurs favor Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa for launching new businesses, with significant investments in wholesale trade, real estate, and IT

Since the onset of the full-scale war in Ukraine, more than 3,000 companies have been founded by citizens from 101 countries, with Kyiv emerging as the most popular location for these new businesses. According to Opendatabot analysts, the majority of these enterprises have been established by citizens of Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Poland, reflecting strong geopolitical and economic ties with Ukraine.

Key Statistics:

  • Top Foreign Entrepreneurs: Turkish citizens have founded 396 companies (12.9% of the total), followed by Uzbekistan with 312 companies (10.1%), and Poland with 224 companies (7.3%).
  • Kyiv's Dominance: The capital has attracted 1,517 new foreign-owned companies, representing nearly half of all new enterprises with foreign ownership in Ukraine. Uzbek nationals lead in establishing businesses in Kyiv, with 175 companies.
  • Lviv and Odesa as Key Regions: Lviv region saw 460 new companies, mainly driven by Polish investors, while Odesa region welcomed 273 new companies, predominantly from Turkey.

Business Sectors:

  • Wholesale Trade: This sector accounts for 30.7% of the new companies, highlighting Ukraine's strategic position as a transit hub between Europe and Asia.
  • Real Estate: Comprising 6.7% of the new ventures, this sector reflects foreign investors' long-term interest in the Ukrainian property market.
  • IT and Computer Programming: Representing 5.8% of the new businesses, the tech sector continues to grow, even amidst the ongoing conflict.

Major Investments:

  • The largest foreign investment is from an Armenian-owned company, TENS1MA, with a charter capital of UAH 1.28 billion.
  • A U.S. citizen's venture, JSC "Closed non-diversified venture corporate investment fund "Yugen," follows with UAH 700 million.
  • A Polish-owned company, LFS LLC, ranks third with a capital of UAH 300 million.

These investments signal strong confidence among foreign investors in Ukraine's economic potential, even during challenging times. The significant concentration of new businesses in Kyiv, alongside notable activities in Lviv and Odesa, underscores the resilience and appeal of Ukraine's key economic regions.

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