The Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce was incorporated under Canadian law and began its operations in 1993.

In 1994, the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce signed an ?Agreement on Trade and Commerce? with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Trade. Over the course of the next five years, the Chamber grew to include dozens of Canadian and Ukrainian companies with CUCC operated offices in Toronto, Canada and Kyiv, Ukraine. However, because of the business instability in Ukraine after it had declared its independence in 1991 and the general lack of the government?s advancement of business legislation, the Chamber found itself in the position of having to cut back its operations progressively until, in 1999, the Chamber became dormant and suspended its operations indefinitely.

Early in 2005, after the election of a democratic government in Ukraine, the promise of viable business opportunities and a supportive business environment became apparent. At that time, a group of distinguished Canadian businessmen that included a number of original CUCC members decided to attempt to resume the activities of the Chamber.

On March 23, 2005, a general meeting of some 60 business people met in Toronto, Canada, affirmed their commitment to the initiative and resolved to proceed with re-instituting the Chamber. A re-energized Board of Directors comprising 30 members was elected and it immediately acted to initiate and implement new business plans. Among its first actions, the Board appointed an Executive Committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the Chamber. Subsequently, John Znaczko was elected the first President of the reconstituted Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce.

The resurgent interest in having an effective Chamber is attributed to the optimism of Canadian business, the promise of significant benefits both to the Canadian and Ukrainian economies and the positive dialogue between Canadian interests and their counterparts in Ukraine at various business and political levels.

Initially, well over forty companies became members of the revitalized Chamber. The number of members has grown at an encouraging increasing rate. Members include sizeable Corporations, financial institutions, and a myriad of medium and small private enterprises.

In order to reaffirm the very favorable business relationship between the business communities in Canada and Ukraine, the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce negotiated and signed a ?Joint Cooperation Agreement? with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in May of 2005. The Agreement outlines six major areas of cooperation in which the two bodies have committed to establish practical working relationships.